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03 



Semi-Centennial 

I' 

History of Nebraska 



Historical Sketch 



BY 



A. E. SHELDON, A. M. 

Director of Field Work, 
Nebraska State Historical Society 



Illustrations, State and County Statistics, Public 
Buildings and Biographical Sketches 



BY 



THE LEMON PUBLISHING COMPANY 

Lincoln, Nebraska 

1904 



M^' 






THE. LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS. 

Two Copies Received 

DEC 19 ia04 

^CopynaM Entry 

CLASS ^ XXc- Noi 
COfY A. 



Copyrighted 1904 

By Tilt Lemon Puhlishiny Company 

Lincoln, Nebraska. 



The Woodruff-Collins Press 
Printers, binders 



FOREWORD 



Touching the history of the world titty years is but 
a short stroke of the pendulum, yet what marvelous 
achievements are wrought during that tleeting swing of 
time ! The purpose of this volume is to review the 
development of a great commonwealth, Nebraska, at the 
close of her semi-centennial, and to recount the principal 
incidents preparatory to Statehood. For the successful 
execution of the purpose outlined it has been our good 
fortune, — and that of the reader as well, — to secure the 
services of Prof. A. E. Sheldon, A. M., whose elaborate 
investigations and extensive study of the history of 
Nebraska, have eminently qualitied him for the task. 
Supplementary to this historical sketch, and realizing that 
the best aid to comprehension is comparison, we have 
sought to assist by a comparative showing, the reader's 
appreciation of the remarkable progress of a pioneer 
people. As such accomplishments are attained only 
through the activities of a sturdy race it is therefore 
assumed that a history conforming to the needs of the 
busy life is most essential. With this thought the main 
points in the state's history are presented, and comparative 
illustrations of her resources and industries shown. Many 
of the illustrations have been made for special use in this 
history and arc published for the first time. To the 
heroic, progressive Nebraskan this work is sincerely 
dedicated. Frank L. Lemon. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I.— EARLIEST RECORDS. 
Origin of History. — The Cemetery of the Past. — The Carboniferous Age, The Oldest 
Document. — The Cretaceous Period; Fossil Leaves, Oysters and Small Sea Animals. — Rec- 
ord of the Bad Lands, Menagerie of the World-Dead. — Suggestive Lispiration. 

CHAPTER n.— PREHISTORIC NEBRASKA. 
Evidences of Ancient Habitations. — Stories of French Trappers. — Discovery of Ancient 
Flint Mines. — Burial Mounds. — Location of Early Aborigines. — Indian Fire Places. 

CHAPTER HI.— THE NEBRASKA INDIANS. 
Three Distinct Indian Peoples — The Pawnee, Location, Advancement, Customs, Wars. — 
The Otoes. — The Poncas; Romantic Story, Friends of the Whites, Removal to Indian Ter- 
ritory, Pathetic Parting with Old Home, Standng Bear's Return, Important Suit Securing a 
Writ of Habeas Corpus, Citizens of the State. — The Omahas; Long Residence, Traditions, 
Noted Chiefs, Men and Women of Talent, Number, The Men Voters. — The Nebraska Sioux; 
Scorned Garden Industry and Permanency, Perpetual Wars, Territory Covered, First Killing 
of White Men, General Harney's Signal Avenge, Spectacular Farewell to Nebraska. — The 
Cheyenne and Arapahoes ; Hunting Grounds, Language, Ancestry, Disposition. 

CHAPTER IV.— THE FIRST WHITE MEN. 
First Explorers, Undisputed Record. — Coronado's Expedition. — The Story of Quivira. — 
Fables of Spanish and French Literature on Nebraska History. — The Period of the Real Ex- 
plorer. 

CHAPTER v.— THE AMERICAN EXPLORATION. 
The Louisiana Purchase. — Lewis and Clark Expedition. — The First Council. — Pike Ex- 
ploration.— First Permanent Settlement, Manuel Lisa, Trading Posts Established, The Seat 
of Western Diplomacy, Introduction of Improved Agriculture. — The Founding of Bellevue. 
— Ft. Atkinson.. — A New Epoch. — First Rlissions. 

CHAPTER VI.— EARLY POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS. 
Early Possessors. — Purchase by America, Laws and Government. — Commercial Meth- 
ods and Legislation. — Immigration of Indians to Territory. — Treaties. — George Catlin, 
Prince Maxmilian and John C. Fremont Expeditions. — A Parting Glance in the Forties. 

CHAPTER VII.— ORIGIN OF NAME AND TERRITORIAL ORGANIZATION. 

First Step to Organization. — A War Measure. — Earliest Suggestion of the Name Ne- 
braska. — First Bill to Create a Territory. — Cause of Measures Being Oppressed, Sectional 
Conflict. — E^ffect of the Slavery Compromise. — Mormon Emigration. — Establishment of Old 
Fort Kearney. — Second Nebraska Bill Introduced. — A New Phase, The Railroad Question, 
Further Complications. — Fierce Debate in Congress Over Nebraska Territory. — The Organ- 
ization Defeated. — Third Nebraska Bill, New Provisions, and Motive Behind Them. — The 
Nebraska-Kansas Substitute, The Contest and Passage in the Senate. — Passage in the 
House of Representatives. — The Rights of the Indians. — The Attitude of Southern States- 
men. — Nebraska a Territory. — Eflfect in the North ; Influence on Slavery Extension, Migra- 
tion Westward, The Commercial Trend. 

CHAPTER VIIL— NEBRASKA TERRITORY. 
Beginning of Territorial Life. — A Score of Pressing Public Questions. — Location of 
Townsites. — Rivals for the New Nebraska Capitol. — Territorial Census. — First Session of 



Nebraska Legislature. — The Agitation for a Pacific Railroad. — Leading Features in First 
Legislation. — Claim Club Law. — Sioux Raid. — The "Catfish War." — Early Nebraska Reve- 
nue Systems. — Wild Cat State Banks. — The Census of 1856. — More Nebraska Wild Cats. — 
Flush Times. — Nebraska's First Real Estate "Boom." — The Panic of 1857. — Bottom Falls 
Out of the Market for Town Lots. — The Wild Cats' Den. — Hard Times. — The Legislature 
Passes Bill Moving the Capitol up Salt Creek. — Governor Izard Vetoes It. — Another Leg- 
islature. — More Capital Revenue Bills. — Free-for-All Legislation Knock Down. — The Flor- 
ence "Rebellion." — Arrival of Governor Richardson. — Death of Secretary Cuming. — J- Sterl- 
ing Morton Becomes Secretary of State. — First Organization of Political Parties in Nebras- 
ka. — The Black Republicans. — Prohibition Repealed. — First Homestead Exemption Law 
— Nebraska Warrants Selling for Thirty Cents on the Dollar. — The South' Platte "Seces- 
sion" Movement.- — Convention Asks to Unite with Kansas.— First Contest between Republi- 
cans and Democrats. — The Pawnee War of 1859. — The LTnited States Census of 1860. — The 
Morton-Daily Campaign for Congress. — Governor Black Vetoes Bill Abolishing Slavery in 
Nebraska. — National Republican Administration. — Nebraska's Part in the Civil War. — The 
Sioux. — Cheyenne W'ar on the Frontier. — The First Homestead 1863. — The Union Pacific 
Railroad. 

CHAPTER IX.— THE STRUGGLE TO MAKE A STATE. 

Earliest Statehood Movement. — Defeated by the People, 1860. — The Campaign of 1866. 
— The Election Dinner in Rock BlufTs Precinct. — Andrew Johnson's Veto. — The Negro 
Question Again. — Final Triumph of Statehood. 

CHAPTER X.— THE STATE OF NEBRASKA, 1S67-190L 

Early Statehood Days. — The First Capital and Town Lot Sales. — The Union Pacific and 
Burlington Railroads. — The Tide of Immigration. — Impeachment of Governor Butler.— De- 
feat of X'ew Constitution, 1871. — Early School Plans. — The Salt Works. — The Grasshopper 
Visitation. — The Constitution of 1875. — Early Grange Organization.— Beginnings of Anti- 
Monopoly.— Fight to Tax Railroad Lands.— Census Figures of 1870 and 1880.— The Great 
Migration to the Plains. — Conflict between Homesteaders and Cattlemen. — Extension of 
Northwestern Railroad. — South Omaha Stock Market.— Nebraska's Second Real Estate 
"Boom." — Defeat of Prohibition and Woman SuiTrage. — Growth in Wealth. — Ascendency 
of Republican Party. — The Drouth Decade. — Depopulation of the Plains. — State Relief. — 
The Farmers Alliance. — A Political Revolution. — Lines of Conflict. — Legislative Changes. 
— Changes in Nebraska Public Thought. — The F'ailure to Regulate Railways. — Industrial 
Discoveries. — x\lfalfa. — Winter Wheat. — Creameries. — Beet Sugar. — Irrigation. — The Last 
Indian W"ar. — Wounded Knee. — Restoration of the Republican Party. — Present Public 
Questions. — Conclusion. 

CHAPTER XL— STATE INSTITUTIONS. 

Institute for the Blind, Nebraska City. — Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, Omaha. — 
Hospital for the Insane, Lincoln. — State Penitentiary, Lincoln. — Chronic Insane Asylum, 
Hastings. — Institution for the Feeble Minded Youth, Beatrice. — Home for the Friendless, 
Lincoln. — Nebraska Industrial Home, Milford. — Soldiers and Sailors Home, Grand Island. — 
Boys Industrial School, Kearney. — Girls Industrial School, Geneva. — Branch Soldiers and 
Saliors Home, Milford. — State University of Nebraska, Lincoln. — School of Agriculture, Lin- 
coln. — Fisheries, South Bend. — State Normal School, Peru. 

CHAPTER XII.— MISCELLANEOUS AND ILLUSTRATIONS. 

The Nebraska State Historical Society. — Nebraska National Guard. — Nebraska Com- 
mission to the St. Louis Fair. — Nebraska's Grain Productions. — The Beet Sugar Industry. — 
The .Swine Industry. — The Sheep Industry. — The State Cattle Industry. — The Nebraska 
Poultry Industry. — The South Omaha Union Stock Yards. — Nebraska Irrigation Associa- 
tion. — Comparative Illustrations. — Governors of Nebraska. — Nebraska's Representatives in 
Congress. — State Officials. — County Histories. — Court Houses and County Officials. 




J. T. MCCLUSKEY 
Oldest Living Nebraska Fur Trader— 1840-1^04— Relating 
Early History to the writer of this Sketch 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL 



HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



CHAPTER I 



Where does the history of Nebraska be- flints and ashes of fires long ago buried deep 
gin? This first, fundamental query lies beneath Nebraska soil? Or still beyond, — in 
across the opening of my story as I have quartzite boulders dropped by glacial ice on 
seen a cottonwood log lie athwart the door- the hilltops, in the beds of subsoil clay and 
way of a settler's cabin. Does it begin with sand beneath, in the shales and sandstones be- 
the written record of the first white explor- low them, in the blocks of solid limestone deep- 
er? With the first vague accounts carried bv er vet? 




Scene on Dismal River 

Indians to distant white men's trading posts? This history shall begin with the oldest Ne- 

Farther back among the unwritten Indian tra- braska records. These records lie beneath our 

ditions told for ages about campfires, trans- feet. However obscure the characters or inatle- 

mitted and transmuted in memory down the quate our ability to read, there it is, a great 

generations? Does it begin back of all tradi- book of stone and clay and dirt whose story 

tion — with the bones in the burial mounds will be read with increasing interest through 

along the Missouri Valley, with the chipped the years as our power to translate it grows. 



10 



SEMI-CEXTENXIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



At the start one great difficulty is met; the 
leaves \vill not turn. They lie piled one upon 
the other in nearly horizontal sheets, some of 
them deeply buried from sight. There are three 
principal ways of getting at them to read their 
contents. The first is to go to the mountains 
beyond where the leaves are bent up in great 
folds, crumpled and exposed. The second is to 
find where the streams of water have cut down 
through them in Nebraska exposing the edges. 
The third is to dig into them. All three meth- 
ods liave been employed and the results com- 
pared. From them it is possible now to write 



the Platte, the Blue, the Missouri and other 
streams which have cut valleys in the lime- 
stone hills the quarryman works in the ceme- 
tery of the past, blasting and carving out the 
skeletons of former inhabitants to serve the 
purposes of present ones. This was the great 
coal-forming or Carboniferous Age when the 
deep beds of coal in Iowa, Kansas and Missouri 
were being created. Nebraska was too far out 
on the edge of coal-making conditions to pro- 
duce any deep beds, but the story of her part 
in that period of millions of years is written 
deeply in her rocks. A layer of black, soft 




A Nebraska Brachiopod. Coal Measure Sea She! 



much of the history of Nebraska long before 
there were any human beings here or even any 
dry land for them to stand on. 

Anywhere from 10,000,000 to 20,000,000 
years ago Nebraska was the bottom of an in- 
land sea that swept up from the Gulf ofMexico 
and covered the Mississippi valley. We know 
it was the bottom of such a sea because sea 
animals, shell-fish and corals and crinoids, hun- 
dreds of kinds of them, lived and died, and dy- 
ing left the imprint of their bodies in the soft, 
slimy sea bottom. Today that sea bottom is 
part of the limestone rocks of eastern Nebraska 
and all along the Nemaha, the Weeping Water, 



shale filled with vegetable remains tells the 
story of a period of swamp ; another layer of 
marly limestone intermingled with fossils tells 
the story of a shallow sea swarming with ani- 
mal life ; a thick stratum of solid stone with 
few fossils tells the tale of a deep sea. Through 
millions of years these alternations of depres- 
sion and elevation, of swamp and shoal and 
sea, went on writing roughly their record in 
the rocks. These limestone rocks themselves 
with their interlying layers of shales and softer 
material are from six hundred to one thousand 
two hundred feet in thickness. They are the 
oldest Nebraska history. Thus far only the 



EARLIEST RECORDS 



11 



largest events in their story have been puzzled 
out. For centuries to come scliolars will be 
deciphering the details of those long ages 
which speak to us only through their tombs. 
For the Nebraskan of today, — school child or 
grown up — there is no more inspiring, instruc- 
tive lesson than a day among the limestone 
ledges, noting the differences in dift'erent 
strata, finding the curious forms there en- 
tombed, and trying to frame some conception 
of how distant the time, and how vast the 
changes since they were the living inhabitants 
of Nebraska. 

The carboniferous limestone book is the old- 
est document in Nebraska history. Next oldest 
of Nebraska documents is a curious one in four 
volumes called the "Cretaceous Period." These 
four volumes have striking differences of color, 
of texture, of arrangement, of fossil remains, 
but all four relate chapters in the story of a 
second great sea, covering what is now the 
great plains, and stretching from Texas to 





Part of Ancient Oyster Bed 



Nebraska Red Sandstone Leaf 

British America. The lowest of the four vol- 
umes is the Dakota red sandstone formation, 
named from Dakota City in this state, where 
it was first studied. It is from 200 to 300 
feet thick and appears on the surface in num- 
erous places in the eastern part of the state. 
The most interesting story it has to tell is the 
story of the woods of long ago which grew 
around the borders of the vast inland sea. The 
leaves of the maple, the willow, the oak, the 
magnolia and of many others are as perfectly 
preserved in the hard rock as though it were 
yesterday instead of millions of years ago that 
they fell. Next above the red sandstone lies the 
Benton book, named from Fort Benton in Da- 
kota, where it appears in its full thickness — 
about two hundred feet. The most prominent 
feature in the history it has to relate is that 
of ancient oyster beds. Little oysters and big 
oysters, sheet upon sheet, and layer above lay- 



12 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



er, packed so closely that one cannot drive a 
shingle nail without piercing a dead oyster. 
What a feast for some of the present day in- 
habitants of Nebraska if they might have raked 
the bottom of the shallow oyster bed bays of 
this period. Next above these Benton oyster 
rocks lies about three hundred feet of Nio- 
brara chalk rocks, named from the Niobrara 
river where they are exposed in perpendicular 
cliffs. In these the oyster beds disappear and 
are succeeded by the skeletons of very small 



lived and died and another variety of sea shell 
whose long glistening skeletons found today, 
are called "petrified snakes." 

The record of the next chapter in Nebraska's 
history is found only in the Bad Lands of the 
northwestern corner of the state. There the 
soft mud, five hundred to a thousand feet thick, 
which formed the bottom of an interior lake, 
has been cut into guHies and canyons by the 
winds and waters. Here today is found the 
most remarkable menagerie in the world— dead. 




A Nebraska Titanotherium from the Bad Lands of Northwest Nebraska 



sea animals. The last volume in this series is 
ca;lled the Pierre shale, from Pierre, South Da- 
kota. This is the bulkiest book of all, varying 
from three hundred feet along the Blue river 
to three thousand or four thousand in the high 
plains of western Nebraska. Its leaves tell of 
the time when vast quantities of mineral mud 
were washed into the inland sea, packing its 
bottom with soda which reappears today in the 
alkali lakes of the sand hills. During this time 
monstrous coiled sea shells called ammonites 



The skulls and teeth of sabre-toothed tigers, 
the huge hip bones and tusks of rhinoceroses, 
the leg bones of three toed horses are all found 
in this ancient cemetery. Hither come scientific 
expeditions from all parts of the world, to bear 
away to their museums the bones of the early 
inhabitants of northwestern Nebraska. 

Higher up, above the Bad Lands muds are 
the sands and butte clays which form the top 
and the picturesque scenery of western Ne- 
braska. In some places this formation takes 



EARLIEST RECORDS 



13 



the shape of lofty pinnacles and spires crowned 
with pine forests : in other places, the wash 
from these sands has created the great sand 
hills. Layers of volcanic dust fused by intense 
heat into glassy fragments and now resting 
between other layers of sand or clay tell un- 
mistakably of a time long ages ago when vol- 
canoes were near enough neighbors to Ne- 
braska to leave their mark upon her landscape. 
After all the ages, wdiose history is written 
in rock and sand and shale, came the more re- 



hills, long grooves cut in the exposed surface 
of limestone ledges and i)anks of rounded peb- 
l)les and gravel. 

This hasty glance at the long and mighty 
prelude to human history in Nebraska would 
perhaps find no place in so brief a sketch as 
I purpose writing. Hut more «ind more, true 
history becomes — not the mere stringing of 
events like beads upon a thread, but a philos- 
ophy as well ; a suggestion of underlying 
causes and sequences, which shall stimulate 




Scene in Sioux County 



cent one, wdiose record is found in the black al- 
luvial soil which covers the surface of the 
greater part of Nebraska and makes it one of 
the richest gardens that ever the hand of man 
was set to cultivate. In these upper sheets are 
foun<l from time to time the bones and teeth 
of the mastodon and the mammoth which 
once mamed the prairie. Across the eastern 
third of the state are scattered the records of 
the great ice age in the shape of huge boulders, 
dropped by melting icebergs on the tops of 



the intellect to a wider study, a more passion- 
ate search for the roots of things wdiich shall 
enable one to act better his own part in the 
space allotted him. It has seemed to me that in 
the whole course of Nebraska history, nothing 
is more suggestive or inspiring — nothing more 
(|uickl_\- kindles the imagination with its un- 
solved problems than a glance at the record 
of these ages preparatory to human existence 
in this state. 



PREHISTORIC NEBRASKA 



CHAPTER II 



Until a very few years ago no evidence gashed with trenches, while hills a mile back 

had been gathered of the existence of prehis- are honey-combed with pits and tunnels and 

toric man in Nebraska. To the east the mound covered with the debris of ancient workings, 

builders had left their mark in the forests of The pits and trenches have tilled with soil, and 

Ohio and along the ^Mississippi. Their skele- in some of them oak trees hundreds of years 

tons and their handiwork in stone and clav old are growing. 




and copper told of human communities thou- 
sands of years older than white discovery. To 
the west the clifif dwellers in the Colorado des- 
ert had left equally tangible evidence of their 
existence at a remote period. But the plains 
had been the home of the hunting tribes. Con- 
ditions there were not favorable to the develop- 
ment of an early civilization or the preserva- 
tion of records. 

The first work of prehistoric man in Nebras- 
ka to attract attention was on the Weeping 
Water, near Nehawka, Cass county. There 
the limestone terrace above the stream is 



A century ago French trappers brought 
down the Missouri wonderful tales of aban- 
doned Spanish silver or lead mines upon the 
Weeping Water. Fifty years later expeditions 
were fitted out to explore them, — the disgusted 
prospectors returning with the declaration 
that there was not a trace of metal there. In 
1856 Mr. Isaac Pollard, from Vermont, settled 
upon the site. He took an immediate inter- 
est in the workings, but years passed before 
their mystery was solved. In the year 1900, 
at his own expense, he made an open cut sixty 
feet long, six feet wide, and ten feet deep. 



PREHISTORIC NEBRASKA 



15 



through tlie deljris. In the cut were found loose made centuries ago by aborigines in search of 
limestone boulders, torn from their original the only material they knew for tools and 
position in the horizontal ledges, hammered weapons. The extent of the workings of these 




Ancient Indian Fireplaces in the Bad Lands 



and broken and most significant of all, with 
their flint nodules removed. During the next 
two years the locality was studied by Mr. E. 
E. Blackman, of the State Historical Society, 
and by Professors Brower, Upham, and Win- 
chell, of Minnesota, noted archaeologists and 
geologists. These studies have established 
that the workings were ancient flint mines, 





'i^^-^'M 







Ancient Flint Mines 



savages who had no iron tools is surprising 
and will repay a visit to the spot. 

On tlie tops of rounded hills above the 
Missouri, the Platte and other streams, are oc- 
casionally found burial mounds, not so large 
as the great mounds of the Mississippi Valley, 
but evidently hundreds of years old. One of 
these on the farm of Hon. Cass Jones, near 
Rulo, was opened a few years ago. In it was 
the skeleton of a man over six feet tall, and a 
very large collection of stone battle axes, flint 
knives and spear heads. On the Lowe farm, 
six miles south of Nebraska City, is a very old 
site which was explored in 1901 by J. Sterling 
Morton, his son Paul Morton, now secretary of 
the navy, and Mr. Blackman. Beneath six 
feet of soil were found the remains of old fires, 
broken pottery, and a pottery kiln. 

In the summer of 1903, the writer discov- 
ered in a Bad Lands valley, a few miles from 
the Nebraska line, buried beneath ten feet of 



16 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



stratified soil, some of the strata filled with 
shells of fresh water animals, and other evi- 
dences of an old lake bed, numerons prehis- 




Ancient Pottery Unearthed 

toric fire places, flints, arrow heads, fragments 
of pottery, and a vast quantity of bones and 
kitchen refuse. 

The traditions of all the Indians found in 
Nebraska by white men assert a comparatively 
brief residence here, and a migration from re- 
gions farther east and south. These scattered 
discoveries raise the question : Is it possible 
that a thousand years ago or more scattered 
off-shoots of the mound builders found their 
way up the Missouri, made their homes upon 
its hill tops and in its secluded valleys, burned 
pottery, mined for flint, and were finally exter- 
minated by the ruder tribes of hunters who mi- 
grated here later? Or was it rather the an- 
cient ancestors of the Pawnees who left these 
memorials in a time far antedating Pawnee 
traditions? The systematic exploration and in- 
vesti,gation which will furnish the data to an- 
swer these and other questions has only recent- 



ly begun. The evidences themselves are fast 
being destroyed. All over the state the broken 
pottery of ancient Indian villages is being 
trampled into smaller fragments and even into 
tlust by the thousands of head of domestic 
stock close grazing the fields ; the plow and 
harrow are leveling the traces of old fortifica- 
tions and burial mounds; the flint knives, ar- 
row-heads and spalls once so abundant are be- 
ing picked up and sent out of the state by pri- 
vate collectors. If ev(.r, a pa^t of the story of 
prehistoric man in this state is to be deciphered 
and preserved it must largely be through the 
scientific interest and generous state pride of 
lier citizens. There are now living in nearly 
every one of the six thousand school districts 
of Nebraska some of the first settlers who 
knew every mark and mound on the prairie 
before it was cut by the breaking plow ; there 
are children born in these school districts who 
know, as only children learn to know, every 
feature of their native fields and woods, the 
spots where arrow heads and burnt clay and 
curious stone tools were found, where pits or 
trenches used to be. It is to these the appeal 
is made by the writer of these pages to com- 
municate to him the hint which may lead to 
careful exploration and mapping of these sites 
— possibly to discoveries unthought of. 

A few general outlines of the localities 
where remains of early and probably prehis- 
toric aborigines have l^ecn noted in the state: 
The tops of blufifs along the entire course of 
the Missouri river. The valley of the Weeping 
Water. The upper valley of Salt Creek. The 
valleys of the Loups for a long distance up 
each of the forks. The upper Elkhorn and es- 
pecially in ]\Iadison, Antelope and Holt coun- 
ties. The upper Niobrara in Sioux county. 
There are probably other localities, but these 



PREHISTORIC NEBRASKA 



17 



are where most of the exploring has been done. 
The Loup region is especially rich in sugges- 
tions of far-distant inhabitants. For example a 
few years ago an irrigation ditch was being 
dug near the little town of Alpine in the Middle 
Loup valley. The ditch followed the base of 
the hills and at a distance of more than half 
a mile from the river and four feet beneath 
the surface was uncovered the remains of an 



ancient settlement. There were piles of clam 
shells, heaps of charcoal and pottery and every 
indication of long use as a home, and far 
enough in the past for four feet of earth to 
cover them. The chance excavation of the 
ditch brought them to the light of day. Wher- 
ever such are found in the future they ought 
to be left undisturbed until a scientific explorer 
witli a camera can be summoned. 




Wild Poppv of Northwest Nebraska— The Pet of the Plains. 



THE NEBRASKA INDIANS. 



CHAPTER 




Typical Indian Tepee 

Three distinct Indian peoples, — the Pawnee, 
the Sioux and the Algonquin, — differing in 
language, customs and traditions, were found 
in Nebraska by the earliest white explorers. 

The Pawnees were the dominant Nebras- 
ka tribe. They numbered from 10,000 to 20,000 
and occupied the fairest and most fertile parts 
of the state in the valleys of the Platte, the 
Elkhorn, the Blue and the Republican. They 
were the most advanced in the arts of 
any Nebraska Indians.They lived in large per- 
manent villages whose houses were built of sod 
and poles. Sometimes the village was sur- 
rounded with a dirt wall for defense against 
enemies. Near the villages were fields where 



the squaws raised corn, beans, pumpkins and 
melons, — digging the ground with a sharpened 
stick or a hoe made by fastening the shoulder 
blade of a buft'alo to a pole. Like some of his 
fashionable imitators today the Pawnee spent 
only half the year at home. About June first, 
after the corn and vegetables had been planted 
and hoed, the entire village departed on its 
summer buffalo hunt. In September the band 
came back, gathered and dried its crop of corn 
and pumpkins and left again in October for 
the winter hunt which lasted vmtil March. 
Among the vivid recollections of the writer's 
own childhood thirty years ago are the Paw- 
nee encampments near the old homestead on 
the West Blue made by them four times a 
year while going and coming from their home 
on the Loup to their hunting ground on the 
Republican. 

The Pawnee alone of Nebraska Indians 
made pottery. The art died out like the art of 
chipping flint, after contact with traders had 
brought iron and brass implements into use. 
They tempered their clay with burnt rock and 
clam shells pounded until reduced to powder, 
moulded it into shape desired on a framework 
of braided grass, woven wilow or the smooth 
rounded end of a log and burned in kilns 
excavated in hill-sides. The fragments of 
tens of thousands of vessels are found every- 
where on Pawnee village sites in the state. 



THE NEBRASKA INDIANS 



19 



The Pawnees were in almost constant war- 
fare with all of their neighbors. The Sioux, 
Cheyenne, Crow, Arapahoe, Comanche, Kiowa, 
Osage tribes — each and all sharpened their 
knives on a common whetstone of hatred to 
hunt the Pawnee. Was it because of radical 
difference of blood and speech or l)ccause the 



and tradition establish — but Sioux who had be- 
gun to farm and settle down, living at the time 
the historical period begins along the Missouri 
river under the protection of the Pawnees, with 
the latter nation acting as a buffer state be- 
tween them and their own wild relatives — the 
Oglala and Brule Sioux. Besides these little 




Pawnee Indian Village on Platte River Near Fremont. Sketch by Simmons, 1856. 



more savage, wilder tribes hold a natural ani- 
mosity toward those who are passing out of 
the hunting into the agricultural stage? Tribes 
that have begun to make permanent settle- 
ments and cultivate the soil offer more incen- 
tive to their wild neighbors in the way of booty 
and are always in danger of extermination un- 
til they form communities strong enough to 
reduce the wild men to submission. So we 
find the Omahas, Otoes and Poncas — all of 
them reallv Sioux Indians as both language 



tribes the only people in the trans-Missouri re- 
gion with whom the Pawnees were on terms of 
peace and commerce were the Wichitas, of 
Kansas, and the Aricaras and Mandans of Da- 
kota, — the first two being their own kinsmen 
speaking dialects of the same language. 

The traditions of the Pawnees as to their 
origin were two-fold : one declaring that they 
came from the southeast near the junction of 
the Missouri and Mississippi — the other that 
they came from the southwest beyond the 



20 



SEMI-CEXTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



mountains. The latter story was known only 
to the old men. i\Iany things which cannot be 
enumerated here confirm its main outlines, and 
indicate that the tribe had come in contact 
with the semi-civilization of the Mexican In- 
dians and through long centuries had slowly 
migrated northeast and then northwest. The 
migration was in waves, the Aricaras being the 
pioneers and going on up the Missouri, then 



in war and the chase, for the share that fell to 
them of the chief's food, protection and glory. 
We shall find similar associations among the 
Sioux, — with some differences. There were 
jealousies and differences of custom and 
speech between the four bands, but during a 
large part of the past century they were united 
under one chief of the whole Pawnee nation, — 
Pita-Leshar-u, a really great leader, the mem- 




Site of Ancient Pawnee Village. Scene of General Thayer's 
Treaty of 1855, Three Miles Southeast of Fremont, Neb. 

followed the Skidi band of Pawnees who were ory of whose name is still cherished by many 

in Nebraska many years before the Grand, the white people. 

Tapage and finally the Republican bands fol- The constant wars of the Pawnee nation 

lowed them. One significant fact may well be made great gaps in their numbers which were 

mentioned : The Pawnees oflfered human sac- never filled. In the very earliest days of con- 

rifices — the last ones occurring since they be- tact with whites they probably had 20,000 peo- 

came subject to the United States. pie, but the first careful estimates of their 

Pawnee society had progressed so far that numbers made early in the nineteenth century 

there were distinct tokens of the beginning of by counting their lodges put them at 10,000. 

the feudal system. Strong, far-sighted war The Pawnee country was directly in the path 

chiefs gathered around themselves groups of of the early routes of travel across the plains. 

youth and even old men who were glad to do The white man's liquor and diseases made 

the work of their households, serve under them large inroads upon the tribe. Their enemies 



THE NEBRASKA INDIANS 



21 



made fiercer attacks upon them. In 1833 the 
Skidi band was severely defeated on the Ar- 
kansas river by Comanches, losing several 
hundred. In 1847 the Sioux, seven hundred 
strong, raided a Pawnee village and killed 
eighty-three. In 1854 the Cheyennes and Kio- 
was cut otT a band of 113 Pawnees and not one 
escaped. In 1873 a Sioux war party of six 
hundred attacked four hundred Pawnees while 



family. Their languages were so much alike 
that they could converse and for most of the 
historic period they were at peace with each 
other and often intermarried. To the Otoe 
tribe had joined itself the small remnant left 
of the Missouri band. The chief seat of the 
Otoes and Missouris a century ago was in 
Saunders county, about twelve miles north of 
Ashland. Later their main village was in Sar- 




Indians Skinning a Buffalo 



hunting buffalo in Hitchcock county and killed 
eighty-six. When they moved to Oklahoma in 
18T5 there were a few more than two thousand. 
The census taken in June, 1902, disclosed 638 
remaining. 

On both sides of the Missouri river from 
Rulo to Niobrara were the early day homes of 
the Otoes, the Omahas and the Poncas. These 
were small tribes, numbering between one and 
two thousand people each when first encount- 
ered by white men. They were near relatives 
in blood, being members of the great Siouan 



py county, though they hunted and camped 
over the entire region from the Platte river 
south to the mouth of the Nemaha. In the 
early part of the last century the Otoe nation 
had a great chief, Ictan. He made his little 
people widely feared by his own ability as a 
fighter and organizer, but was killed April 29, 
1837, in a fight with some of the young men of 
his own tribe. No successor to him in promi- 
nence and ability has ever appeared. The tribe 
was greatly reduced by whisky introduced by 
fur traders. It early ceded all its lands except a 



22 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



reservation on the Big Blue river in Gage 
county. Tliis in turn was demanded by the 
white man and in 1881 it was sold and the tribe 
went south to its present home in Oklahoma. 

The story of the Ponca tribe is one of the 
most interesting and romantic in Indian an- 
nals. The little tribe, numbering something 
over a thousand was found by the earliest 
white explorers occupying the country at the 
mouth of the Niobrara river. During the whole 
of the eighteenth and three-fourths of the nine- 
teenth centuries this was the most exposed 
outpost against the wild Indians of the north- 
west, the fierce Oglala and Brule Sioux, who, 
although the blood kindred of the Ponca, were 
their bitterest enemies. In spite of losses by 
this ceaseless border warfare, and by smallpox, 
the little band maintained itself in its ancient 
home and remained from the first the firm 
friend of the whites. When the great Sioux 
treaty of 1868 was made at Ft. Laramie by 
some blunder that no one has ever explained, 
the whole Ponca reservation, which had been 
guaranteed to the tribe over and over again 
in repeated treaties by the national govern- 
ment-was given to their deadly enemies, the 
Brule and Oglala Sioux. Soon as their ene- 
mies understood that the Ponca territory had 
been given to them by treaty of the United 
States their raids became more fierce and fre- 
quent. The seven years that followed the Ft. 
Laramie treaty were years when the Poncas 
were obliged to work their little gardens and 
cornfields as did the Pilgrims in New England 
or the early settlers of Kentucky, with hoe in 
one hand and rifle in the other. In 187G con- 
gress passed an act providing for the removal 
of the Poncas to Indian Territory, with their 
consent. The next year another act was passed 
for their removal to the territory without re- 



gard to their consent. In the spring of 1877 the 
Poncas were busy putting in their crops. Many 




Ponca Indian Agency and School August 19, 1904. 

had sown spring wheat. Some had put in corn 
and were engaged in gardening. A force of 
soldiers arrived and orders were sent out for 
all the Indiansto prepare to move at once to In- 
dian Territory. There were heart-breaking 
scenes in the little tribe. The Niobrara and 
Ponca valleys had lieen their home so long they 
knew no other. The graves of a dozen gener- 
ations were there. The little fields their fore- 
mothers had cultivated with bufifalo-bone hoes 
before the white trader brought in iron tools 
were to be abandoned. There were tears in the 
teepees and hot words in the little councils. 
The cooler heads prevented an outbreak and 
the long march to the south was begun. Ar- 
rived at their new home the warm, moist cli- 
mate, so different from the dry, bracing air of 
their Nebraska home, brought on sickness. Out 
(if seven hundred and ten, one hundred and 
fifty-eight died the first year. Homesickness, 
worst of all diseases in misery that it carries, 
was in every lodge. 

In the mid-winter of such a scene of 
wretchedness. Chief Standing Bear, with a lit- 
tle band of thirty relatives and retainers. 



THE NEBRASKA INDIANS 



23 



slipped away from the reservation and turned 
their faces nortli. Seven of the party were 
very sick when tliey started They were ten 
weeks on the road and arrived, ragged and 
nearly starved, at the Omaha agency in March. 
Their presence there was reported by the 
agent to Washington and on request of Secre- 
tary of Interior Carl Schurz, the commanding 
officer at Omaha, General Crook, was ordered 
to arrest them and return them under military 



issued to restore them to the liberty of which 
they had unjustly been deprived. The case was 
argued by Webster and Poppleton for the 
Poncas and by United States District Attorney 
Lambertson for the government. The great 
issue raised was whether Indians were citizens 
and as such entitled to the protection of the 
constitution and laws of the United States. 
Judge Dundy did not decide this question n 
his opinion, but held that an Indian was a 




Standing Bear, Wife and Daughter. 



guard to Indian Territory. When the party 
was brought to Omaha, March 26, 1879, the 
news of their misfortunes became known and 
in their behalf was brought one of the most 
important law suits to determine the status of 
Indians ever tried. Friends of the prisoners in- 
duced John L. Webster and A. J. Poppleton to 
volunteer their services in their behalf. This 
was the case of Standing Bear vs. George 
Crook, brigadier general of the United States 
army, and asked that a writ of habeas corpus be 



person within the meaning of the laws and 
had therefore the right to the writ of habeas 
corpus; that inaddition an Indian had the right 
to sever his tribal relations and that Standing 
Bear and party haxing done this could not be 
imprisoned without trial and were entitled to 
their liberty. 

Standing Bear and his band remained in 
Nebraska. A few years later the great Sioux 
nation, to show that the wars were all ended, 
ceded enough lands on the old Ponca reserva- 



24 



SEMI-CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



tion to provide farms for such of the Poncas 
as returned to Nebraska. There were 233 of 
them in the old neighborhood at the last cen- 
sus. The men are citizens of the state and vote 
at all elections the same as white men. Stand- 
ing Bear, now past seventy, but strong and vig- 
orous, owns 400 acres of beautiful valley land 
on the Niobrara and when the photograph 
which illustrates this text was taken, — July 25, 
1904, — sent his warm remembrances to the 
onh' living one of the two Omaha lawyers who 



Ohio and the Wabash, centuries ago to the 
junction of the Missouri and Mississippi. From 
this point they worked their way northwest, the 
Osages making their home on the river which 
bears their name in Missouri, the Otoes fol- 
lowing up the Missouri to the Nemaha and 
Platte, while the other three journeyed by slow 
stages across the state of Iowa to the Great 
Pipestone quarry in southwestern Minnesota. 
\\'ars with the Yankton Sioux drove them 
across the Missouri river and they became res- 




Omaha Indian Village on Papillion Creek, 1854. 



made the successful fight for his own liberty 
and the rights of his people a quarter of a 
century ago. There are 557 of the tribe in Okla- 
homa on a new reservation given them by the 
government in 1881 and on which they have 
been content to remain. 

Alone of all the Indians who made Ne- 
braska their habitat the Omaha tribe remains 
with us upon the old camping ground where 
their fathers lived when the first white men met 
them. Their traditions declare that along with 
the Otoes, the Osages, the lowas and the Pon- 
cas they came from the east, the region of the 



idents of Nebraska about two hundred years 
ago. Since that time their village site has 
been moved from Blackbird Creek to Bell 
Creek near Fremont, from there to Salt Creek 
above Lincoln, from Salt Creek back to Black- 
bird, from there to the Elkhorn near West 
Point, from West Point to Shell Creek, from 
there to Omaha creek, from Omaha creek to 
the Elkhorn near Wisner, from there about the 
year 1832 to Omaha Creek, in 1S45 to the 
neighborhood of Bellevue and in 1855 to the 
present location where they have since lived. 
In the Omaha tribe have been a number 



THE NEBRASKA INDIANS 



25 



of men and women of remarkable ability whose 
names are treasured in the tribal lore and will 
be themes for future poets and novelists. Two 
or three only may be mentioned here. Black- 
bird, the most cruel and despotic of all the 
Omaha chiefs, died of smallpox in 1800. Stor- 
ies of the fear he inspired are common. 
He was recognized by both French and Span- 
ish governors at St. Louis as a great chief and 
original commissions issued to him as such are 
in the State Historical Society collections. 
After Blackbird, Big Elk was head chief and 
the accounts of the exploring expeditions in the 
early part of the last century have frequent 
tributes to his good qualities. He was succeed- 
ed by Iron Eye or Joseph LaFlesche who was 
the pioneer in teaching the tribe to adopt civ- 
ilized customs and methods of farming. His 
daughter. Bright Eyes, became an author, a 
public speaker in behalf of her race in Europe 
as well as America and the wife of T. H. Tib- 
bies, populist candidate for vice-president in 




Logan Fontanelle 

1904. A son, Frank, has written several books 
on Indian life and is in the Indian Bureau at 
Washington. The popular hero among the 
Omahas is Logan Fontanelle, son of a French 
trader and Omaha woman. He was the first 
Omaha chief who could speak English as well 
as Indian. In the summer of 185G he was killed 
in a battle with the Sioux on Beaver Creek in 



Boone county. He was buried in his own door 
yard on a wooded point about a mile north of 
Bellevue. The whole Omaha nation and the 
white settlers as well, attended the funeral 
and mourned his loss. 




Omaha Agency. Looking Southeast. 

The Omaha tribe has always been at 
peace with the whites, sometiines at war with 
the Pawnees, Poncas and Otoes and practically 
always at war with the Sioux. In the early 
part of the century they lost half the tribe by 
smallpox, but sufTered far less than their neigh- 
bors by the white man's liquor, which de- 
stroyed the Otoes and Pawnees. This was 
largely due to the action of the leading men 
who called a council over fifty years ago, which 
passed stringent laws against the use of liquor 
and enforced them for many years with severe 
punishments by the "soldier lodge," the tribal 
militia and police. The tribe now numbers 
about 1,100 people, living in comfortable homes 
on their beautiful reservation in Thurston 
county. The men are voters in the state they 
have good right to call their own, and the fu- 
ture prospect is that so long as there are Ne- 
braskans some of them will carry Omaha blood 
in their veins. 



26 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



The real Nebraska Sioux were chiefly the carry their goods on ponies or sometimes in 

Oglala and Brule bands of the great Sioux na- canoes to the headwaters of White river from 

tion. They were the advance guard, the border which point they reached tlie different Sioux 

rangers, of the Siouan people. They scorned camps scattered over that beautiful reo-ion 




Fire Thunder and His Garden. An Early Resident of Nebraska. Sioux Nation. 



to make gardens or build permanent villages. 
Skin tents were their only houses and wild 
meat and wild fruit their food. They came 
from the east and southeast out upon the 
plains probably not more than two or three 
hundred years ago. They advanced to the 
west, fighting their way against the Pawnees, 
Mandans and Aricaras, and according to one of 
their own picture-calendars drove the Crows 
out of the Black Hills about 1775. From that 
time on they are in perpetual war with the 
Pawnees and Crows. The latter were driven 
into the Big Horn country and the former 
back upon their ancient site near the forks of 
the Loup. A hundred years ago the plains 
Sioux had taken possession of the hunting 
ground between the Niobrara and North 
Platte and their expeditions went as far south 
as the Republican. French traders used to 
come up the Missouri to Pierre and from there 



of pine hills and broad valleys. The total 
Sioux strength west of the Missouri was be- 
tween 10,000 and 20,000 of the best fighting 
stocks on the plains. They were high-spirit- 
ed, but hospitable and honest in their rela- 
tions with the whites. For a hundred years 
traders, both French and American, had been 
going freely among them without difficulty. 
Many of these men now living have told the 
writer that they have left thousands of dollars 
of goods in Sioux camps without losing a dol- 
lar's worth. 

The opening of the Oregon trail in 183-1 and 
the subsequent ]^Iormon migration and rush for 
the California gold mines in 184G-50 poured a 
vast white population through the heart of the 
Sioux country in Nebraska and led to the es- 
taljlishnient of Fort Laramie. There the Sioux 
resorted to trade. What is kaown as the "Mor- 
mon ox" episode was the beginning of a long 



THE NEBRASKA IXDIAXS 



scries of bloody wars with the Sioux extending 
over forty years. On August 19, 185-i, a re- 
port was brought to the commander at Fort 
Laramie that an ox which had strayed from a 
party of Mormon emigrants had been killed 
and eaten by the Sioux, several thousand of 
whom were camping along the North Platte. 
Lieutenant John L. Grattan, of the Sixth in- 
fantry, -was sent with two pieces of artillery 
to bring in the guilty Indians for punishment. 
The reports are conflicting as to just how the 
trouble commenced, but two cannon shots were 
heard and the lieutenant and his entire com- 
mand were killed in ten minutes time. Ameri- 
can Horse, who was a boy of fourteen at the 
time, and saw the fight, says the officer trained 
his cannon on the teepee of Chief Conquering 
Bear, the head of the Sioux nation, and ordered 
him to produce the bad Indians or he would 
open fire. The cannon were fired and Conquer- 
ing Bear was killed, but the soldiers were al- 
most instantly shot to death with arrows. The 
Indians having a taste of blood and wild at the 
death of their great chief, plundered Bordeau's 
trading post near the scene of battle and killed 
a mail carrier on the route in November. 




C)n September 3, ISoo, these affairs were 
signally avenged by Ciencral Harney at Ash 
Hollow, in what is now Deuel county. He sur- 
prised a camp of Brule .Sioux under Little 




Roast Dog Dinner. Pine Ridge. Photo by Sheldon, 
July 4, 1903 



American Horse, Family and Home. Photo by Sheldon 
August 1, 1903. 

Thunder, killing eighty-six and capturing sev- 
enty women and children. From this date un- 
til their transfer from Nebraska soil in the 
summer of 1878 the attitude of the great body 
of Nebraska Sioux is, at heart, one of hostility 
to the white men. August 3, 1871, Old Red 
Cloud Agency was established on the north 
side of the Platte, a short distance from the 
town of Mitchell, Scotts BlufT county, and thir- 
tv-two miles from Fort Laramie. August 1, 
1873 the agency was removed to the beautiful 
valley of the upper White river at Fort Robin- 
son. Two great leaders of the Nebraska Sioux 
had arisen during the wars and negotiations 
since the Mormon ox was eaten. Red Cloud and 
Spotted Tail. In their honor two separate 
agencies about forty miles apart are named. 
These become the last Nebraska home of the 
Sioux who so long have hunted and fought 
u])on her soil. Here, in Scenic Nebraska, 



28 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



flanked on tlie north by tlie wild fastnesses of 
the Bad Lands and on the south by the pic- 
turesque beauty of the Pine Ridge, were en- 
acted some of the most notable scenes in the 
last act of the great Sioux drama in our state. 
During the next five years this White river 
valley was the camping ground of the bulk of 
the Sioux nation. From these camps the ad- 
venturous young men slipped away to join 
the hostile Sioux during the Sioux war of 
1876 and 1877. Here on September 26, 1876, 
the council was held which made the purchase 
of the Black Hills. Hither in April, 1877, 
came Crazy Horse with the ragged remnants 
of the hostile Sioux who had been on the war 
path for two years, except the few who es- 
caped north under Sitting Bull. Here on Sep- 
tember 5, 1877, Crazy Horse himself, the Na- 
poleon of the latter years of Sioux warfare, 
was run through by the bayonet of a United 
States soldier. From this valley October 26, 
1877, set out the most remarkable pageant in 
the history of the Sioux nation, the last, spec- 
tacular, farewell to their long cherished Ne- 
braska. In two great moving columns, sep- 
arated by about twenty miles of space, the 
followers of Red Cloud and Spotted Tail moved 
away to make their permanent home on their 
present reservation in Dakota. The column 
of Spotted Tail included 4,600 Indians, two 
companies of United States cavalry, 120 trans- 
portation wagons and 2,000 head of beef cat- 
tle for subsistence. The Red Cloud column 
was larger. Marking their course with pillars 
of dust by day and a thousand watch fires by 
night, they marched away toward the Mis- 
souri river, leaving a thousand memories of the 
days of border warfare to be read by future 
generations of white men as an imperishable 
part of the early history of Nebraska. 




Red Cloud and Squaw. Photo by Geo. L. Gerlach, 
June 13, 1900 

The third distinct Indian people of Ne- 
braska were the Cheyennes and Arapahoes, 
whose hunting grounds were the headwaters 
of the Platte and Republican, partly in Ne- 
braska and partly in Colorado and Wyoming. 
Their language is utterly unlike the Pawnee or 
any of the Siouan dialects, — Brule, Oglala, 
Ponca, Omaha, Otoe or IMissouri. It is Al- 
gonquin, the same language the Pilgrims 
heard from the tribes about Plymouth Rock 
and into which the Apostle Eliot translated 
the first Indian bible two hundred and forty 
years ago. One of the most remarkable proofs 
of Indian migrations is the presence of this 
little nation,— not more than 3,000 people, — 
surrounded on all sides by tribes different in 
blood and speech,— here at the base of the 



THE NEBRASKA INDIANS 



29 



Rocky mountains with unmistakable evidence 
of their relationship to King Philip and Sam- 
oset. Their own traditions relate that they 
came from the northeast a long distance. 
Their part in the story of Nebraska is mainly 
that of the Oglala Sioux, whose allies they 
were. The Northern Cheyennes have marked 
tribal differences from the Sioux, — even those 
with whom they were associated. They are 
lighter colored in complexion and very much 
more restless and active. They were among 
the bravest and hardest fighters of all the 
plains tribes and have given more trouble in 
management at agencies than anv other tribe. 



Part of the tribe is now in Oklahoma and part 
at Tongue River in Montana. 

Besides the Indians mentioned who were 
found in Nebraska by the first white men 
there have been brought in and settled here 
by the United States government the follow- 
ing: The ,Winnebag*oes, 1,100 in number, lo- 
cated in 18G4 in the northern part of the Om- 
aha reservation. The Santee Sioux — 1,047 in 
number, located in 18G6 in what is now Knox 
county. The Sac and Fox and loways whose 
reservation is mostly in Kansas, but includes 
a narrow strip in Richardson county near the 
^Missouri river. 






.. f.- J 






A Typical Winnebago Indian Village Near Winnebago Lake, Nebraska. 



THE FIRST WHITE MEN 



CHAPTER IV 



i 


L_ 


r 


1 




m 


rr 




II 


I 

f 


iM 


t 




— ' 


n T-^ — 


- 


^ 


T 

J 

1 


■i. 

W. 




i 


• 


1 

t 

•J- 



Benjamin Gilmore, Blacksmith and Interpreter 
Otoe Indians. 1832, 1847. 

' It was on the 29th of May, 1739, that a 
party of eight Frenchmen, — Pierre and Paul 
Mallet, (brothers), Phillippe Robitaille, Louis 
]\Iorin, Michel Beslot, Joseph Bellecourt, 
Manuel Galien and Jean David— set out from 
the village of the Panimaha or Skidi band of 
Pawnee in northeast Nebraska and became 
the first explorers of this territory to leave un- 



disputed record of their work. On the sec- 
ond of June they reached and named the river 
Platte. They followed this to the forks and 
from there went up the North Platte three 
days. Finding it leading them in the oppo- 
site direction that they wished to go they 
crossed the neck of land to the South Platte. 
They continued a southwesterly course, losing 
seven horses and nearly all their goods in 
crossing the Arkansas. After many hard- 
ships they reached Santa Fe on the 2"2nd of 
July where they were cared for by the Span- 
iards and returned to New Orleans the next 
year via the Arkansas river. 

The object of the Mallet brothers' expedi- 
tion was to open trade between the French 
settlements in the Mississippi valley and the 
Spanish settlements in the Rio Grande valley. 
These Spanish settlements and their relation 
to Nebraska form one of the earliest and most 
captivating chapters in our history, — one ante- 
dating the French, but less definite. Just two 
hundreds years before the ^lallet brothers 
started up the Platte valley in February, 1540, 
Francis Vasquez Coronado left the city of 
Compostella on the Pacific coast of southwest- 
ern Mexico to discover and conquer the Seven 
Cities of Cibola, marvellous stories of whose 
population and wealth had reached i\Iexico. 
The expedition followed the coast of the Gulf 
of California almost to its head, then turned 



THE FIRST WHITE MEN 



31 



northeast, crossed the region now known as 
Arizona and found in the pueblo towns of the 
Zuni and Moqui Indians the Seven Cities, but 
instead of cities of gold and splendor the 
sunbaked homes of poor people. Greatly dis- 
appointed here, Coronado heard eagerly re- 
ports of larger and more numerous settlements 
further east and crossed the desert and moun- 
tains into the Rio Grande valley where he 
found eighty towns of Pueblo Indians irrigat- 
ing their gardens with the waters of the Rio 
Grande and dwelling in peace and plenty. 
Coronado's army spent the winter of 1540-41 in 
the Rio Grande valley. Their relations with 
the Indians, at first friendly, became embit- 
tered by Spanish greed and arrogance and 
broke out into revolt. It was a short story. The 
Spanish veterans stormed the mud walled pue- 
blos, massacred their defenders, reduced the 
whole valley to servitude and laid the founda- 
tion for the Spanish-Indian population and gov- 
ernment which has ever since held the valley 
of the Rio Grande. It is at this time, in the 
midst of the greatest suffering of the pueblo 
Indians there appears for the first time the story 
of Quivira, a rich Indian country far to the 
northeast where the great King Tatarrax ruled 
sitting under a tree hung with golden bells 
which played whenever the wind blew. There 
was a great river seven miles wide on which 
floated canoes with forty oarsmen. The com- 
mon tools and vessels were made of silver and 
gold and King Tatarrax himself worshipped a 
"cross of gold" — which certainly sounds famil- 
iar to Nebraskans of the present day. This 
story was told the Spaniards by an Indian from 
the plains who was held as a slave by those 
pueblo Indians who lived on the Pecos river in 
what is now eastern New Mexico. The Indian 
was called "The Turk" by the Spaniards— be- 



cause he looked like one as their writers say, — 
and this leads to the surmise that he was a Paw- 
nee and it was the peculiar Pawnee fashion of 
wearing the hair which reminded the Coronado 
soldiers of a Turk. After much questioning of 




The Pawnee Indian 

the Turk, on April 23, 1541, Coronado left the 
Rio Grande with his whole force of three hun- 
dred Spaniards and about seven hundred In- 
dians to seek Quivira. This army traveled 
thirty-five da3^s from the Pecos river out upon 
the high plains. Coronado then sent the main 
army back to the Rio Grande and with thirty 
picked horsemen and the Turk rode north 
forty-two days more when he came to the land 
of Quivira. Instead of palaces with gold and 
silver he found naked Indians living in straw 
houses and eating raw bufifalo flesh which they 
cut with knives of flint. There were twenty- 
five villages of these straw houses in the valley 
of a very large river. The land was rich and 
black. There grew wild plums, grapes, wal- 
nuts, sumach, mulberries and a kind of wild 
flax having blue flowers. Coronado says in his 
report to the King of Spain "the province of 
Quivira, where I reached it, is in the fortieth 
degree of latitude." Beyond Quivira was an- 
other Indian nation called Harahey. A delega- 
tion of these Indians two hundred strong came 



32 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



to visit Coronado. They were dressed in ^^'as Ouivira in Nebraska, — and Coronado 

breech clouts, carried bows and "wore things the first white discoverer of our state? The 

upon their heads," — a description again which question has been fiercely debated by scholars 

points toward the Pawnees. After a stay of and the last word is not said. In a paper read 

twenty-five days in Quivira the Spaniards re- before the Nebraska state historical society 

turned to the Rio Grande, having strangled the April 16, 1880, Judge James W. Savage, of 




Quivira Monument, Junction City, Kansas 

Turk, who confessed before his death that he Omaha, presented the theory for the first time 

had lied to them about Quivira at the instance in this state that Quivira was upon the Platte 

of his masters, the pueblo Indians of the Pecos river in the neighborhood of Fremont. There 

river, in order to lead the army out of their is not space here to give his argument, but it 

country and into the desolate plains where was very plausible, appealed strongly to state 

it might be destroyed. pride and was generally adopted. We have 



THE FIRST WHITE MEN 



33 



had Quivira parades in Omaha wliercin King 
Tatarrax rode in all the savage glory of an 
early Nebraska sovereign. In the twenty-five 
years since Judge Savage presented his paper 
a great deal of new light has been shed on the 
subject. The route of Coronado has been min- 
utely studied. It has been established beyond 
question that the Quivira Indians were the 
Wichitas, — they being the only Indians in all 
this region who built grass houses. A great 
river which Coronado crossed on his way to 
Quivira has been very closely identified as the 
Arkansas. With these two points conceded it 
is not hard to fix the valley of the Kansas river 
in the vicinity of Fort Riley as the true site of 
Quivira. Here are the remains of a vast former 
Indian population, — acres of rough flint axes, 
knives and arrow heads, and at a distance of a 
few miles other remains of finer flint work- 
manship mixed with thousands of fragments 
of pottery. Explorations begun in 1896 on this 
site by Mr. J. V. Brower, of Minnesota, cul- 
minated in the declaration by him that he had 
rediscovered Quivira. In the summer of 1902 
the writer was present at the unveiling of a 
granite monument a few miles from Fort Riley 
designed to commemorate the rediscovery. The 
last word is not yet said in the Quivira con- 
troversy, but the present weight of opinion and 
evidence is that Coronado was mistaken in his 
reckoning of latitude, did not cross the fortieth 
degree into Nebraska, and that Quivira was in 
the Kansas valley instead of the Platte. So 
much space is here given to the subject because 
the story of Coronado and Quivira has passed 
into current Nebraska newspaper literature 
with the assumption that they were proven to 
belong to Nebraska history. 

Between the time of the Coronado expedi- 
tion in 1541 and the Mallet journey in 17-10 Ne- 



braska was Fable-land or Liar's Paradise. The 
Spanish and French literature of that period is 
filled with the most fantastic tales of wonder- 
ful nations, vast cities, great treasure of gold 
and silver — all located in Nebraska. A num- 
ber of these were accepted for many years as 
real narratives of journeys into this region. 
Some of them are still quoted in historical 
works. A brief reference to the more import- 
ant of these romances belongs properly to .3 
history of Nebraska. It might perhaps be 
called "the legendary history of Nebraska" if 
the legends were not known to be fabrications 
of the authors and not — like the fables of early 
Rome — popular tales handed down by word of 
mouth for many generations before they were 
written. 

One of the earliest of these stories is con- 
nected with Onate who was governor of New 
Mexico from 1598 to 1608. In the year IGOl 
he led an expedition of 80 men northeast across 
the plains a distance of about 700 miles in 
search of Quivira. He fought a battle with an 
Indian tribe whom he calls "Escanjaques," 
killing 1,000 of them. Large villages were 
seen beyond and reports were brought him 




The Quivira Tomahawk 



34 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



that nations living still farther had vessels of 
gold in common use, but he was willing to re- 
turn to the Rio Grande without seeing them. 
The whole story as told in the old Spanish 
records has elements of exaggeration, yet the 
main fact of an expedition northeast and prob- 
ably into the Kansas-Nebraska region cannot 
be doubted. 

Don Diego Penalosa is the next of these 
.Spanish explorers — and falsifiers — and perhaps 



them and they followed the great river which 
made a bend and now flowed from the north. 
After many more days marching they came to 
one of the cities of Quivira. It was over seven 
miles long and contained thousands of houses, 
some of them three and four stories high built 
out of hard wood. The Spanish commander 
made a truce with the Quiviras, but the Escan- 
zaques broke the truce, captured and burned 
the city and killed all the inhabitants who did 




the most noted. The story of his expedition 
purports to be written by Nicholas de Freytas, 
chaplain of the command. It relates how in 
the spring of 1662 Penalosa with a thousand 
Indians and eighty Spanish knights, six cannon 
and eleven hundred horses and mules marched 
out from Santa Fe. For three months they 
held their course northeast until stopped by a 
wide and rapid river where they met a war 
party of the same "Escanzaques" seen by 
Onate sixty years before. This war party, 
3,000 strong, wac on its way to fight one of the 
great cities of Quivira. Penalosa joined with 



not escape by flight. Penalosa and his army 
returned to New Mexico. So much for the 
story. As late as 18S7 Judge Savage in a 
communication to the Nebraska state histori- 
cal society accepted its truth and identified the 
site of the destroyed city as the Loup valley 
near Columbus, Platte county. Critical study 
of the later years has established that Penalosa 
was governor of New Mexico from 1661 to 
1664, that he left there because of a quarrel 
with Jesuit priests and went to France where 
in IGTO he petitioned the French king to place 
him at the head of a force to conquer the Span- 



THE FIRST WHITE iMEN 



35 



ish provinces west of the Mississippi. He never king with his people made adoration before 

made an expedition to Quivera, but used the them. This Indian nation carried on commerce 

account of Onate's expedition in IGOl, with with countries so distant that it required six 

embellishment, as an incentive to persuade the months for a caravan to pass from one to the 

French court to give him an army. other. Sagean saw one of these caravans, hav- 

Passing over other Spanish accounts of ing 3,000 head of cattle all loaded with gold, 

wonderful adventures in Nebraska-land we depart. There was an army of 100,000 men 

may consider a few samples of French fancy ready always for war. The women were white 

relating to the same field. The first of these and beautiful with most remarkably large ears 

to deserve special notice is the tale of INIathieu in which were hung great rings of gold and the 

Sagean, a Canadian by birth, told by him in society belles had extremely long finger nails. 




French Map of Territory including Nebraska, Printed Over Two Hundred Years Ago by LaHonton 

France to the ministry of marine about the All of this and much more of the same kind so 
year KOO. Sagean's story was that with much stirred the French ministry that it forth- 
eleven other Frenchmen and two Indians he with sent letters to its agents in America de- 
crossed the divide west of the upper Missis- manding further information of this great un- 
sippi, 150 miles, to a great river flowing south- known country. 

west. He floated down this river several hun- All these splendid Nebraska liars were 
dred miles in canoes until he came to the na- eclipsed by Baron La Hontan, a Frenchman, 
tion of the Acaanibas, living in many cities and who shall be the last one here noticed. In the 
strong forts. Their houses were built of wood year 1703 he published in French at The Hague 
and of bark. Their king was called Hagaazen two volumes of his travels in what is now Ne- 
and claimed descent from the Montezumas. braska and Dakota. The original volumes are 
His palace was 5-1 feet high with walls and before me as I write, with numerous illustra- 
floors covered with plates of gold. There were tions of the people who lived here and a map 
two wonderful giant idols, a male and a female, showing the entire country between the Miss- 
in front of the palace and every morning the issippi and the mountains. He found three 



36 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Ancient Spanish Stirrup, Found in Franklin County 

Under Four Feet of Soil in 1872. Property of 

Hugh Lamaster, Tecumseh 

great nations, living in this region — the Gnas- 
ticares, the Mozamleek and the Tamuglauk. 
Some of them wore beards a foot long. There 
were ships with 200 oarsmen, houses built of 
stone, forts and palaces. When an Indian was 
about to die friends gathered around to catch 
his spirit as it left the body, — from which La 
Hontan concluded they were Pythagoreans 
and believed in the transmigration of souls. 
The extraordinary industry and ingenuity of 
La Hontan is shown by a long vocabulary of 
Indian words with their French equivalents. 
Many of the customs, animals and plants are 
given by him correctly, but as a whole his 
work is a mass of fabrication rivalling Gulli- 
ver's Travels. 

The period of the real explorer of Nebraska 
was at hand when La Hontan printed his book. 
As early as 1700 the French archives begin to 
contain reports of Canadian voyageurs who 
had gone into the Missouri country. On Nov. 
16, 1705, two canoes of voyageurs came to the 
Illinois settlements. In one of them was a 
Frenchman named Laurain who had been in 
the Missouri river valley and brought vague 



news of the Indians who dwelt there and of 
the Spanish provinces beyond. In 1708 Nicolas 
de La Salle, brother of the great discoverer, 
met French trappers who had been up the 
Missouri seven or eight hundred miles. They 
said it was the most beautiful country in the 
world, with herds of wild cattle beyond power 
of the imagination to conceive, with mines of 
copper and iron and other metals. Again in 
1717 numerous trappers coming down the Mis- 
souri declared that the climate was the best 
in all the French colonics, that the country 
was rich and that trees of all kinds grew, wild 
cattle, deer and goats were abundant and there 
was great plenty of salt although it was so 
far from the sea. This hints strongly of central 
Kansas or eastern Nebraska. In 1719 an ex- 
pedition under command of Du Tisne came up 
the Missouri, camped at the Osage village and 
from there went westward until he reached the 
Pawnees. The next year French voyageurs 
brought the news that an army of two hundred 
Spanish cavalry, accompanied by a large force 
of Comanches, invaded the Pawnee country 
but were surprised by a large war party of 
Otoes and Pawnees and entirely defeated. This 
story of war between Nebraska Indians and 
the Spanish is repeated so many times by the 
Frenchmen who came down the Missouri that 
it seems as though it must have adequate foun- 
dation. The same travelers, however, repeat 
over and over the story of valuable mines 
along the Missouri from which the Spaniards 
carry mule loads of different metals. Finally in 
1734 M. Bourgmont establishes a French fort 
in what is now the state of Missouri about 
ninety miles below Kansas City. His reports 
are full of interest and show that he knew cor- 
rectly the location of the Otoes, the Pawnees, 
the Omahas and the Aricaras ; he describes the 



THE FIRST WHITE MEN 



37 



Platte river under the name of the river 
of the Pawnees and even the Elkhorn 
river (or Horned Deer river) as flowing 
into the Platte and having eight villages of 
Pawnees on its banks. It does not appear that 
Bourgmont was ever in Nebraska, but cer- 
tainly some Frenchmen about him were in or- 
der to obtain such accurate information. We 
get a glimpse even so long ago as this of 
Frenchmen living with Indian women in this 
region and half-breed children being born. And 
we get more than a glimpse of gold and silver 
mines. From the region of the Aricaras and 
Omahas come story after story of what the 
Indians named "white-iron" — the name that 
silver bears today among the Sioux, — and 
(what is not so impossible) the Aricaras tell 
the story of streams of their land flowing from 
mountains where there is yellow sand which 
can be hammered flat with a stone hammer. 
Can it be this is the first unheeded hint of the 
Black Hills? The next French explorers after 
Bourgmont are the Mallet Brothers, to whom 
I have already assigned the honor of the first 
unquestioned white travelers in Nebraska. 
From the time of the Mallet expedition the 



outlines and general character of Nebraska and 
its habitants grows clear, even though the 
yearly record is obscure. We know that the 
stream of hardy French frontiersmen con- 
tinued to penetrate the tributaries of the Mis- 
souri and mingle its blood with that of the 
native tribes. In 1740-42 French explorers 
from the Minnesota lakes reached the upper 
Missouri near Bismark and discovered the 
Rocky mountains. In 17G4 St. Louis was 
founded and soon becomes the center of the 
fur trade from up the Missouri. It is so much 
easier to float down the river with packs of 
furs than to carry them across the portages to 
the chain of great lakes and then down the 
St. Lawrence to Montreal. Swarms of young 
Frenchmen from the province of Quebec came 
to St. Louis and thence to the Missouri river 
trade. Trading posts were soon established 
to gather the furs and hold them for shipment 
to St. Louis. The oldest one we know in 
Nebraska was Fort Charles in Dakota county, 
founded in 1795. Another one was Cruzatte's 
Post, two miles above Fort Calhoun and dates 
from 1802. 



AMERICAN EXPLORATION 



CHAPTER V 




Court House and Jail 



The stor}'^ of the negotiations of Napoleon 
and Thomas Jefferson which ended in Nebras- 
ka's becoming part of the United States need 
not be told here. Enough to say that when the 
French flag came down at New Orleans on 
December 20, 1803, the prairies and valleys of 
Nebraska had changed sovereignty at a price 
of less than five cents per acre, with the in- 
habitants thrown in. There were about 40,- 
000 of these inhabitants, half of them, like the 
Pawnees and Omahas, living in settled villages 



with the crude beginnings of agriculture, the 
other half, like the Sioux and Cheyennes, in 
a nomad state. For a hundred years the French 
influence had been dominant in Nebraska. It 
is true that from 1762 until 1802 the province 
was nominally a possession of Spain. There 
were Spanish governors at New Orleans and at 
St. Louis, but the people, the language, the 
civilization, remained French. The earliest 
documents written on Nebraska soil were in 
the French language. There is an interesting 



AMERICAN EXPLORATIONS 



39 




William Clark 

affinity between the sounds of the Gallic 
tongue and those of the aboriginal Nebraskans. 
The nasal "n" which the English has not is 
prominent in both of them. The half-breed 
and even the Indian population here had made 
progress in learning how to "parley voo" and 
I have myself heard at this day French words 
and phrases with a correct pronunciation from 
the lips of full-blood Indians in their Nebraska 
homes. An interesting proof of the French in- 
fluence is found in the commissions and letters 
sent by the American governors at St. Louis 
to Nebraska chiefs. For a number of years 
these were written in parallel columns, — Eng- 
lish on one side, French on the other. And 
even as late as 1854 the log books of the steam- 
boats running to Nebraska towns are written 
in the language of Victor Hugo and Maupas- 
sant. 

It was a part of the far-reaching plans of 
Thomas Jefferson to explore and Americanize 
as quickly as possible this western empire. In 
pursuance of this plan he commissioned his 
own private secretary, Meriwether Lewis, and 
William Clark, a brother of General George 
Rogers Clark, whose daring conquest of Illi- 



nois during the revolutionary war forms ihe 
leading theme of President Roosevelt's "Win- 
ning of the West" to command an expedition. 
This expedition, forty-five men in all u ilii 
three boats and two horses, started May 14, 
1804 on its voyage up the Missouri and 
reached the mouth of the Big Nemaha in Ne- 
braska on July 11. On the 13th Captain C lark 
went up the Nemaha two miles in a boat and 
landing not far from where now stands the 
town of Rulo found a number of Indian 
mounds and was delighted with the fruits, 
flowers and grass there growing. On July 15th 
the party reached the Little Nemaha which 
was forty yards wide. There were then no 
trees growing in the Nemaha country except 
near the water. The plan was to have the 
best hunters go ahead on shore with the two 
horses and kill meat for the party. On the l^ith 
the record says the hunters on the Nebraska 
side brought in two deer. On the 20th the 
party camped in Nebraska a little above the 
mouth of the Weeping Water and the next 
day reached the "mouth of the great river 
Platte, three-quarters of a mile wide." Sunday, 
July 22, the camp was pitched nine miles above 
the Platte and here on the 23rd the Stars and 




Meriwether Lewis 



40 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Site of Lewis and Giarke Council 



Stripes was raised for the first time in Ne- 
braska and two men sent with another flag 
up the Platte to the villages of the Otoes and 
Pawnees. At nine o'clock on July 30th the 
expedition came to some timber land at the 
foot of a high bluff and made camp. Here was 
killed the first elk and the first badger, and 
here, on August 3, 1804, was held the first 
council between representatives of the United 
States and the Indians of Nebraska. This 
council is the great historic event in early Ne- 
braska annals. Fourteen Indians, members of 
the Otoe and Missouri tribes, were present on 
one side and the whole white force on the oth- 
er. The meeting was held under an awning 
made from the sail of the largest boat. Presents 
were exchanged. Peace and protection were 
jiromised and the Indians acknowledged the 
authority of the United States. The spot was 
called by Captain Lewis Council Blufi". The 
events of this day were celebrated August 3, 
i;t04, by a pageant reproducing the council of 
a ctntury ago and the dedication of a boulder 
of Nebraska rock with commemorative inscrip- 
tion. The village of Fort Calhoun now stands 
on the summit of Council Bluff and the council 



of 1804 was held within a few hundred yards of 
the railway station there. 

On August 11 the expedition reached the 
tomb of the great Omaha chief Blackbird, on a 
high hill of soft yellow sandstone about three 
hundred feet above the river. Upon the top 
of this hill a mound thirty-six feet around the 
base and si.x feet high enclosed the body of the 
dead chief. The site is not far from the pres- 
ent village of Decatur. On August 16th the 
part}- went fishing in Omaha creek and caught 
over eleven hundred fish of all kinds. August 
24th Ionia mountain or the "Nebraska vol- 
cano" in Dixon county was reached and the 
comment made that it seemed to have been 
on fire lately as the ground was so hot that 
they could not keep their hands in it. August 
•U at a point in Nebraska called Calumet Bluff, 
the first council was held with the Sioux. A 
large party of the Yankton band crossed the 
river from their homes in South Dakota and 
after the usual ceremonies received presents 
and pledged their allegiance to the United 
.States. September 4th the expedition arrived 
at the mouth of the Niobrara and camped just 
above its confluence with the Missouri on 



AMERICAN EXPLORATIONS 



41 




Lewis and Clarke Point 



some low ground witli a heavy timber consist- 
ing of oak, elm, honey locust, coffee nut and 
red cedar. This low ground was long ago cut 
away by the Missouri current. There is now a 
bold rock promotory jutting into the river 
which the writer has named "Lewis and Clark 
Point." September 5th the expedition passed 
the mouth of the Ponca river and so beyond 
the present limits of our state. It had spent 
two months navigating the eastern shore of 
the state, held two important councils with 
the Indian tribes, made a record of the soil, 
the general character of the plant and animal 
life, and the conditions of navigation. It was 
the opening of the west to Anglo-Saxon en- 
ergy and enterprise and led to the early loca- 
tion of numerous trading posts in Nebraska. 

The second American exploring party to 
reach Nebraska was that of Lieutenant Pike 
who left St. Louis on July 15, 180G, with a 



force of twenty-three men, arrived in the Re- 
publican valley and held a grand council with 
the chiefs of the Republican Pawnees on Sep- 
tember 29, of the sp.me year. A force of 400 
Spanish cavalry had visited the Pawnee vil- 
lage just a few days before, left many presents 
and a large Spanish flag floating at the door of 
the principal chief's lodge. Pike ordered the 
flag taken down and the American flag run up 
in its stead. The Pawnees at first refused, but 
when Pike took a determined attitude with 
his little detachment they obeyed. In the sum- 
mer of 1901 the state of Kansas erected a mon- 
ument to mark this event, about eight miles 
south of Hardy, Nebraska, on a hill overlook- 
ing the Republican valley. It is an open 
question whether Pike's action was not taken 
in this state. The official correspondence indi- 
cates clearly that he was north of the state 
line. This was the last .Spanish military expe- 



42 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



dition into the Nebraska country and was 
made for the purpose of conciHating the In- 
dians to secure their trade at Santa Fe and 
to hold their allegiance to the King of Spain. 

The time for the first permanent settlement 
in Nebraska was near at hand. The very week 
that Lieutenant Pike was striking the Spanish 
flag in the Pawnee village, Lewis and Clark ar- 



trip to Oregon with Lewis and Clark to en- 
gage in the IMissouri river Indian trade. They 
had a capital of $16,000. They came up the 
river that summer and again in 1808 establish- 
ing trading posts as far up as the Big Horn 
river. In 1809 the Missouri Fur Company 
was organized by Lisa and a number of others 
with a capital of $40,000. Lisa was field man- 




Lewis and Clarke Memorial Boulder 



rived in St. Louis after more than two year's 
absence. The summit of the Rocky mountains 
had been crossed ; the shores of the sunset 
ocean had been seen. The news they brought 
stirred the spirit of adventure and commercial 
enterprise. There was room for both in the 
new empire and at last there was a sympa- 
thetic, responsible home government to sustain 
both. Manuel Lisa, the leading spirit of young 
Nebraska appeared on the scene. Born of 
Spanish parents in New Orleans he had been 
for some years at .St. Louis. In the spring of 
1807 he formed a partnership with George 
Drouillard, a Frenchman who had made the 



ager. Every year he traveled thousands of 
miles in the Indian country in pursuit of trade. 
He became the best known white man to all 
the IMissouri river tribes. Some time about 
1810 or 1812 he founded Fort Lisa, about ten 
miles above Omaha, just where the Nebraska 
bluflfs jut farthest to the east presenting a pro- 
montory that was the most striking mark on 
the river front. The river washed the bluff in 
those days exposing its foundation of solid 
limestone. Here was the first commercial cen- 
ter of Nebraska. The Omaha, Otoe, Pawnee 
and loway tribes came here to trade. In 1812 
the second war with Great Britain broke out. 



AMERICAN EXPLORATIONS 



43 



The Indians of Illinois, Wisconsin and Min- 
nesota, with a few exceptions, were on the 
British side. The great Indian leader, Tecum- 
seh, was sending the war belt to all the na- 
tions to join and drive the hated Americans 
from the land. British traders were supple- 
menting his efforts with presents of powder, 
guns and liquor. The loways took up the 
tomahawk against tlie Ignited States. The in- 



might have made far worse reading to Ameri- 
can eyes than it now does. The records of the 
United States at W.^shington recognize Lisa's 
great service to the government at this trying 
time and we have the statement over his own 
signature that when the war ended in ISl.J he 
had an agreement with forty-three chiefs in 
this region to start an expedition of several 
thousand warriors against the British Indians 



^^^^^I^^^^^H 






^^^W. :.*<.: 


^^^ 








' ^H^'^ , 


■■■ /* 


• 




r^.- 






'^^^^1 


■ 


k 



Site of Old Fort Lisa 



fluence of Lisa, exerted from his trading fort 
on Nebraska soil, was strong enough to hold 
all the Missouri river Indians firmly in alli- 
ance with the American people. The Nebraska 
Indians not only kept peace with the United 
States but sent war parties against the loways. 
At this time the Missouri River Indians were 
four times as numerous as those of the upper 
Mississippi. If they had joined the great Te- 
cumseh alliance against the LTnited States and 
swept down under British commanders upon 
St. Louis and the scattered settlements in the 
Mississippi valley the story of the war of 1813 



on the Mississippi. As it was he look them all 
down the river with him to St. Louis the 
spring of that year. 

Lisa not only made Nebraska the seat of 
western diplomacj'- and war, but introduced 
improved agriculture. In a letter written at 
St. Louis July 1st, 1817, he resigned his gov- 
ernment position of sub-agent for Indian 
tribes above the Kansas river with a salary of 
$548 per annum, saying among other things: 
"I carried among them (the Indians) the seed 
of the large pompion (pumpkin) from which I 
have seen in their possession the fruit weigh- 



44 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



ing 160 pounds. Also the large bean, the 
potato, the turnip, and these vegetables now 
make a comfortable part of their subsistence, 
and this year I have promised to carry them 
the plow." 

With a white wife in St. Louis, Lisa married 
a young Omaha woman and had by her two 
children. His white wife died and a year or 
two later he married another white woman 
and brought her to Fort Lisa to spend the 



its foundation is yet to be determined. The 
year has been variously given from 1805 to 
1811. The first unquestioned original reports 
we have of Bellevue date from 1821 when the 
Missouri Fur company had a post there in 
charge of Joshua Pilcher. From that time, at 
least, until the present day there has always 
been a white settlement there. 

In the spring of 1811 came to Nebraska 
sliores the expedition of Wilson P. Hunt with 




■fi>^- 



ji^^^-^'^' 



.-•J 



'•'jf.Oi«J,.-iy^,, , 



J3i?S- 



. ■...j.fc.. 



Bellevue, Nebraska in 1865 



honeymoon. She was, beyond doubt, the first 
white woman in Nebraska. He gave rich 
presents to his Omaha wife to avoid trouble 
and left each of his half-breed children two 
thousand dollars to give them an education. 
He died at St. Louis in 1820. The site of 
Fort Lisa was visited by the writer in August, 
1904, and the picture is from a photograph 
taken there. 

Besides Lisa among the early builders of 
trading posts in Nebraska were Robert Mc- 
Lellan and Ramsey Crooks who had an estab- 
lishment near the mouth of Papillion creek in 
1810. Bellevue, only a short distance from 
this early trading post, is conceded to be the 
oldest town in Nebraska, but the exact date of 



seventy men on their way to Astoria, Oregon. 
Along with theexpedition came John Bradbury 
and Thomas Nuttall, two English scientists. 
Their coming marks an epoch in the history of 
our state — the time when its plants and ani- 
mals were first named and compared with 
those of other parts of the world. The Hunt 
expedition reached Oregon after severe hard- 
ships. The next year four men, — Robert 
Steuart, Ramsey Crooks, Joseph Miller and 
Robert McLellan, — started on the return trip 
from Oregon to St. Louis. After long wan- 
derings in the mountains they reached the 
North Platte river late in December, 1812, fol- 
lowed it down past its wild canon into the 
present Nebraska and went into winter 



AMERICAN EXPLORATIONS 



ib 




Site of Old Fort Atkinson 

quarters in a bend of the river a few miles 
above Scott's Bliiflf. They were tlie first 
known white explorers of northwestern Ne- 
braska. March 8, 1813, they broke camp and 
followed the Platte to the Otoe village 
near Ashland Avhere they traded an old horse 
they had brought across the mountains for a 
canoe and went down the Missouri. Their 
story is told in Washington Irving's Astoria 
and is filled with startling adventures. 

The founding of Bellevue and its contem- 
porary stations mark the first period in Ne- 
braska's permanent settlement — the fur-trad- 
ing period. The second period — the military 
and steam engine period — begins in 1819. The 
fur traders continue, but are no longer the 
controlling force.The army and a little later the 
United States Indian agent come in as the 
ruling powers. The first steamboat to navigate 
Nebraska waters — the Western Engineer — ar- 



rived at Fort Lisa September 19, 1819. She 
was a steamer built at Pittsburg Pennsylvania, 
expressly for the use of the United States gov- 
ernment, was a stern wheeler, seventy-five feet 
long, thirteen feet beam and drew 19 inches 
of water. The boat carried Major Stephen H. 
Long with a party of engineers, scientists and 
soldiers designed to explore the region be- 
tween the Missouri and the Rocky mountains. 
The expedition built log houses under the shel- 
ter of the bluff about half a mile above Fort 
Lisa and made winter quarters there. During 
the winter councils were held with the Otoe, 
Omaha, Pawnee and Sioux Indians who came 
there. June 6, 18'20, the party, numbering 
twenty-three men, left the Missouri and pro- 
ceeded up the north bank of the Platte, halting 
at the Grand Pawnee village on the Loup. The 
Wood river valley was followed for some miles. 
June 22 they reached the forks of the Platte, 
crossed the North Platte and on the 23d the 
South Platte, whicli they ascended to the 
mountains. The party returned by way of the 
Arkansas. This expedition discovered and 
named some hundreds of plants, animals and 
fossils. The name of Thomas Say, botanist 
and zoologist, is forever linked in scientific his- 
tory with these discoveries, many of which he 
had the honor of naming. The judgment of 
the expedition upon the value of the country 
is summed up in one sentence which asserts 
that the ''plains on either side of the Platte 
river have an elevation of fifty to one hundred 
feet and present the aspect of hopeless and 
irreclaimable sterility." 

Ten days after the arrival of the Western 
Engineer at Fort Lisa with Major Long's par- 
ty came Colonel Henry Atkinson with the 
Sixth regiment United States infantry in keef 
boats. This force was ordered to Council 



46 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Bluff, the site of the first Lewis and Clark In- 
dian council, — five miles above Fort Lisa 
where it at once began work on the first 
United States military post in our state. For 
several years this pc^t appears in the report of 
the secretary of war as Council Blufif, — later as 
Fort Atkinson in honor of its first commander 
and finally when Nebraska is organized as a 
territory the town located on the site is known 
as Fort Calhoun. From 1819 to 1827 this is 
the center of Nebraska life and activity. Lisa, 
the early ruler of the region, is dead and his 
post is moved to Bf^llevue. At Council Bluff 
is an army of 600 to 1,000 soldiers, besides a 
host of traders and hangers-on. Hither came 
the distant tribes of the plains to get a glimpse 
of the military strength of the great father. 
Caravans were made up here which went as 
far as Santa Fe. Here came in 1824 an ex- 
pedition of 26 Spaniards from the Rio Grande 
and Arkansas to make peace with the Pawnees 
who raided that far away. Through Major 
O'Fallon's influence the peace was made. 
Steamers going up the Missouri made this one 
of their principal stopping places. Here farm- 
ing was first carried on in Nebraska by white 
men. Colonel Leavenworth in command of 
the post wrote John C. Calhoun, secretary of 
war, on August 30, 1823 : "Our spring wheat 
has done well and all our crops are very good." 
In another letter he says they have raised 
enough crop to feed an extra regiment which 
it was proposed to send there. Here, also, was 
the first civilized cemetery. Over one hun- 
dred soldiers died the first year of scurvy and 
beyond doubt many others in the years which 
followed. Here was military and naval head- 
quarters during the hostilities known in our 
early annals as "the Arickaree War of 1823." 
This war was brought on by an attack of the 



Arickaree Indians, who then lived in two large 
villages in South Dakota where the Grand 
river meets the Missouri, upon General Ash- 
ley's company of boatmen and trappers bound 
for the upper Missouri. Fourteen trappers 
were killed and nine wounded. -The fight 
took place June 2. The news reached Council 
Bluff June 18th and June 22nd six companies 
of the Sixth infantry with two six-pounder 
cannon left the fort under command of Col- 
onel Leavenworth and started up the river by 
steamboat. Joshua Pilcher, who had taken the 
place of Manuel Lisa in management of the 
Missouri Fur company, got together forty 
white frontiersmen, took another cannon from 
the fort at Council Bluff, collected about five 
hundred Sioux allies and came on in two other 
boats. Other parties of trappers and Indians 
joined and the whole army numbering eleven 
hundred men with four cannon appeared in 
front of the Arickaree villages August 8. The 
Arickarees were calculated to have about 
eight hundred warriors and had surrounded 
their villages with a wall of wood and dirt. 
After two da3's of skirmishing in which the 
Arickarees lost twenty or thirty killed and 
the whites but two wounded while the Sioux 
had two killed and seven wounded the Arick- 
arees escaped at night and their villages were 
burned. The expedition returned to Council 
Bluff with a very bitter feeling between Col- 
onel Leavenworth and Pilcher over the con- 
duct of the campaign. It is thirty years after 
this before another Indian war affects Ne- 
braska. 

Fort Atkinson or Council Bluff' was aban- 
doned as a military post in 1827, the troops go- 
ing to Fort Leavenworth which thenceforth 
becomes headquarters for the Santa Fe trade 
and the plains Indians. Although three-quart- 



AMERICAN EXPLORATIONS 



47 




Coins Found on the Site of Old Fort Ati\inson 



ers of a century has passed the evidence of 
human activity at this first Nebraska fort are 
still abundant. Great piles of brick and stone 
still cover the soil and every year the farmer's 
plow and gardener's rake bring to light evi- 
dence of those pioneer days. Probably near a 
hundred gold, silver and copper coins have 
been found there and thousands of military 
buttons and tools. IMarked as the site of the 
first Indian council and first United States 
fort in Nebraska it will become in the centur- 
ies to be the great early historic spot within 
our borders. 

With the departure of the military in 1827 
the Indian, Indian trader and Indian agent 
were left the masters of Nebraska. But a new 
epoch was at hand — that of the overland wag- 
on trail, the missionary, the school. The early 
expeditions across our soil, — military, scienti- 
fic, commercial, — were made on horseback or 
on foot. There has been dispute who was the 
first pioneer to make a wagon trail across the 
state. The honor seems to belong to William 
L. Sublette who left St. Louis April 10, 1830. 
with eighty-one men on mules, ten wagons 
loaded with goods and drawn by five mules 
each, two dearborns with one mule each, 
twelve head of cattle and one milch cow. The 



route was, in the main, the one later known as 
the Oregon Trail, — up the Big Blue, the Little 
Blue, the Big Sandy, across the divide to the 
Platte and up the North Platte. Sublette's 
party arrived in the Wind river country July 
16th and returned to St. Louis the same fall 
bringing back their ten wagons loaded with 
furs and the milch cow. A picture of that 
cow herself which made the trip froiu the Mis- 
souri to the Wind river mountains and back 
would be worthy a place in a gallery of Ne- 
braska pioneers. 

After the Sublette wagon trail came that 
of Captain Benjamin Bonneville. Bonneville 
left the Missouri river near Independence, 
Missouri, on May Day, 1832, with an outfit 
of 110 men and forty wagons, bound for 
Pierre's Hole in the Wind river country. 
His route was up the Kansas river, across the 
divide to the l?ig Blue, up the Little Blue and 
Big Sandy and across the divide to the Platfe 
which he struck about twenty-five miles below 
the head of Grand Island, — thence crossing the 
Platte near the forks up the North Platte, past 
Chimney Rock and Scotts BuifF to the Laramie 
fork where he arrived June 2G. Washington 
Irving has told his story, more in the form of 
a romance than of history, in his "Adventures 



48 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Chimney Rock 



of Captain Bonneville," and claimed for him 
the honor of first blazing the wagon track 
which soon after became the Oregon Overland 
Trail. After Bonneville came Nathaniel J. 
Wyeth, who followed Bonneville with a train 
of pack horses in the summer of 1833, crossed 
the mountains to Oregon and arrived at the 
mouth of the Columbia in October. In 1833 he 
returned to Massachusetts, but April 28, 1834, 
found him starting again from the Missouri 
river with a company of seventy men and two 
hundred and fifty horses on their way to Ore- 
gon. In the party were two scientists. 
Thomas Nuttall (whom we have met before) 
and J. K. Townsend. There are also five mis- 
sionaries, among them Jason and Henry Lee. 
This party entered Nebraska May 13 in what 
is now Pawnee county and passed out of the 
present state June 1 when it reached Laramie 
fork, where it found a party of trappers build- 
ing the first stockade which was afterward to 
become so noted as Fort Laramie. This expe- 
dition begins the real Oregon emigrant move- 
ment across the plains and continued in the 
general course taken two years' before, — up 
the Blues and Big Sandy, across the divide to 



the Platte and up the North Platte to South 
Pass. , 

On November 18, 1833, Rev. Closes P. Mer- 
rill and wife, the first missionaries to Nebraska 
arrived at Bellevue. They found there John 
Daugherty, United States Indian agent, his 
brother Hannibal, sub-agent, Gilmore and La- 
Flesche, government blacksmiths, Lucien 
Fontenelle. a Frencli trader, Charlo the inter- 
preter, and half a dozen other white families 
or rather families with a white father and 
Indian mother. Joshua Pilcher was in charge 
of Cabanne's old trading post about a mile be- 
low the site of Fort Lisa and Roubidoux had a 
trading station up the Platte about twenty 
miles, near the principal Otoe village. An old 
log house whose floor was piled with dirt the 
rats had brought in was the missionary home. 
It was cleaned and here, on November 25, 
1833, the first Nebraska school began with 
Mrs. Merrill as teacher. The scholars were 
half breed and Indian children. A Sabbath 
school conducted by Mr. ^Merrill was begun 
the same week. One of the features of both 
schools was singing and in a few weeks the 
melodv of religious hvnins from the lips of 



AMERICAN EXPLORATIONS 



49 



^t' _ ^ 


•Ji 






^^L 


' '- ^>ii^^^^^^l 



Oldest Mission Church 

Indian children rejoiced the heart of the mis- 
sionaries. The first convert, a boy of twelve 
years, was baptized by Mr. Merrill April 30, 
1834. For the first eighteen months Mr. Mer- 
rill applied himself to the task of learning the 
Otoe language that he might preach to the 
people in their own tongue. On April 1, 1835, 
a contract between Moses Merrill and John 
Daugherty provided that the missionary was 
to teach the Otoe and Missouri children of 
lioth sexes and receive therefor the sum of $500 
per year from the government. The same year 
the Baptist missionary society, which had sent 
out Mr. Merrill, made an appropriation of 
$1,000 to erect mission buildings at the Otoe 
Agency about six miles above the mouth of the 
Platte where the main Otoe village had been 
moved. In 1834 appeared the first Ne- 
l)raska book, a little pamphlet of four- 
teen pages containing familiar hymns trans- 
lated into the Otoe language by Mr. 
Merrill. It was printed at the Shawanoe (Bap- 
tist) Indian Mission at Shawanoe, Missouri. 
For the next five years the life of Mr. Merrill 
was crowded with the labors of both teacher 



and missionary. His diary (a copy of which 
is among the archives of the state historical 
society) is filled with incidents of frontier life, 
l)ut most of all with the missionary's struggles 
against the indifiference of the Indians and the 
terrible effects of trader's whisky in the tribe. 
The Otoes would exchange the furs of a whole 
}ear's chase for a few tin cups of poor whisky 
adulterated with water. Over and over on 
nearly every page is the record of more whisky 
l)rought into camp with the acompaniment of 
ilrunken stabbings and shootings. At one 
lime the missionary when on a visit at Roubi- 
doux's trading post writes : "This is not the 
house of God nor the gate of heaven. It is 
rather the house of Satan and the gate of 
Hell. Eight Otoes arrived who had come 
sixty miles to exchange their furs for whisky." 
In the summer of 1838 Mr. Merrill spent sev- 
eral weeks with the tribe on their summer buf- 
falo hunt. February 6, 1840, the missionary 
pioneer passed away and the Otoes mourned 
the friend they called "The-One-<Who-Always- 
Speaks-The-Truth." His son, Rev. S. P. Mer- 
rill, born July 13, 1835, at Otoe Mission was 
the first white child born in Nebraska — so far 
as known. 

In October, 1834, there arrived at Bellevue 
Rev. Samuel Allis and Rev. John Dunbar, sent 
out by the Presbyterian churches. They met 
tlie representatives of the Pawnee nation at 
Bellevue and after a council with them Mr. 
Dunbar went to" the Grand Pawnee village 
while Mr. Allis accompanied the Pawnee 
Loups — the first missionaries to the Pawnee 
nation. Both these ministers lived and lodged, 
ate and hunted, with the tribe, for the next 
two years. During that time they acquired 
the Pawnee language and made friends of their 
Indian brethren. In 183G Mr. .A.llis married 



50 



SE^II-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Miss Palmer who had come out from New came to Bellevue, under Baptist auspices, in 

York and made liis home at Bellevue, while 1837. The next year they went to Black- 

Rlr. Dunhar and Dr. Satterlee, who had come bird Hills, near the present site of Omaha 

out to join the mission force, went with the agency, and began a mission and government 

Pawnees on their summer hunt. The next school. For some reason, not fully explained, 

year Dr. Satterlee was killed by some Indian both mission and school were failures and at 

traders near the head of Grand Island. In the end of the year Mr. Curtis gave up the 

1837 Mr. Dunbar went east and returned with Indian work and went back east. The real 

a wife and the first printed Pawnee book, con- pioneer in mission and school work among the 

taining simple words and designed to teach (hnahas was Rev. William Hamilton, — known 

children. In 1S42 both missionary families for many years as "Father" Hamilton. He 

moved out to the Pawnee villages on the Loup arrived at Bellevue June (>, 1853. In 185() he 

and remained there four years, instructing the built the Omaha mission school, a substantial 

older Indians in farming and the children in structure of Nebraska stone, on a beautiful 

the rudiments of an education, — and bearing liill a few hundred yards from the Missouri 

the gospel to l^oth old and young. The con- river. Here for the next thirty years was the 

tinual raids of the Sioux upon the Pawnee vil- center of Christian and intellectual life in the 

lages finally broke up the mission work — and Omaha tribe and from this center went forth 

the government had failed to station the troops the young men and women who have made the 

so as to protect it. tribe one of the most progressive and civilized 

The first mission to the Omahas was in of Indian peoples. Father Hamilton died at 

charge of Rev. Samuel Curtis and wife who Decatur in 1893. His widow still lives there. 



1^ 






-' ms- Pil 




t — 







Dedication of Lewis and Clark Monument 



EARLY POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL 

RELATIONS 



CHAPTER VI 



Nebraska was claimed by Spain, I'Vanco and 
England in the period of early voyages and 
discovery along the coast. The grants of 
the king of England to the \'ii-ginia and New 
England colonial companies ran "from sea to 
sea" and of course included this state, but 
these were purely paper pretenses. .Spain sent 
an occasional military expedition out upon the 
plains at intervals of a century or more. But 
France, by her hardy sons of the forest and 
plains, first explored and made temporary set- 
tlement here. By virtue of this exploration 
and settlement Nebraska was part of the pro- 
vince of Louisiana, — and as such subject to 
the King of France, — from about the year 
1700 until November 3, 17(i2, when by the 
secret treaty of Paris it was transferred to 
Spain. The king of Spain was the ruler from 
that date until October 1, 1800, when it was 
ceded back to F'rance by the treaty of San 
Ildefonso. The Spanish governor, however, 
remained in possession until the time it was 
turned over to the I'nited -States which, for 
upper I.oiiisiana. was .March JO, isn4. From 
that date until ( )ctober 1, 18(U, this region was 
under a military government, under an act of 
congress, passed October 13, 1803, which au- 
thorized the president to take possession of the 
new territory and that all civil and judicial 
powers there should be vested temporarily in 



persons appointed by him. Under this act 
Captain Amos Stoddard, of the United States 
army was governor at St. Louis and had jur- 
isdiction over Nebraska. I'Tom October 1, 
1804, until July 4, 1805, our state was part of 
the District of Louisiana and annexed to the 
territory of Indiana, whose capital was then at 
^^incennes. William Henry Harrison was then 
governor of Indiana and with the judges for 
that territory, appointed by the president, en- 
acted the laws for this region — the people hav- 
ing no voice in the matter. From July 4, 
180.5 until December 7, 1812, this was part of 
the territory of Lotiisiana, with a governor 
and judges of its own, appointed by the pres- 
ident, who enacted the law. From Decem- 
ber ';, 1S12, until IS-.'l it was part of the ter- 
ritorv of Missouri. .\11 free white males over 




Wreck of Missouri River Steamer. 



52 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



21 years old who had lived in the territory 
twelve months and had paid a territorial or 
county tax and whose homes were on lands to 
which the Indian title had been extinguished, 
were entitled to vote for members of a lower 
house of the legislature, which lower house in 
turn nominated eighteen candidates for an 
upper house of whom the president chose nine 
as members. The Indian title not being ex- 
tinguished to Nebraska none of the few white 
men here could vote. From the date of the ad- 
mission of the state of Missouri in 1821 until 



"club law" the governing force in our state. 
The Indians settled their disputes according 
to Indian custom and white men theirs ac- 
cording to their own inclination. It was, in 
fact, the darkest period of our social history. 
Rival fur traders went everywhere carrying 
their vile liquor without hindrance. The In- 
dians, debauched with drink, fought with each 
other, and sold their ponies and even their 
wives to get more liquor. White men were 
killed in the frontier brawls and the murderers 
wTiit unpunished. After the withdrawal of 




The Yellowstone. The First Regular 
June 30, 1834 Nebraska was an unorganized, 
unattached, wilderness. The state of Mis- 
souri was cut out of the old Territory of Mis- 
souri, and apparently in the heat of the light 
over the admission of the state the rest of the 
territory was forgotten. The only provision 
in the United States laws applying to Ne- 
braska was the eighth section of the Missouri 
bill — "the Missouri Compromise" — which for- 
ever prohibited slavery. As Nebraska was 
not a part of any judicial or other civil dis- 
trict there were no courts in which suits could 
be tried and no sheriff or marshal with au- 
thoritv to serve writs. This virtually made 



Steamer Plying on Nebraska Waters 
the garrison at Fort Atkinson in 1837 disorders 
111' all kinds grew worse. It was the period 
<if unbridled competition. The fortunes made 
in the Indian trade had attracted a swarm of 
big and little adventurers. The American Fur 
Company, organized by John Jacob Astor in 
1808, and maker of the foundation for the As- 
tiir millions of today, had come into the field 
to crush out all opposition. With the far- 
sighted keenness of combining politics with 
business, characteristic of corporations, — and 
sometimes observed in these later days of Ne- 
l)raska life, — the first move of the Astor com- 
pany was to get an act through congress abol- 



KARLV I'ULITICAL AND COAIMERCIAL RELATIONS 



53 




Two Crows 

ishing all g-oveniment trading establishments 
in the Indian country. This act was signed 
May 6, 1S22, and that very summer the Ameri- 
can Fur company engaged in the Missouri fur 
trade with western headquarters at St. Louis. 
Some of the experienced St. Louis traders 
were taken into the company. In 1837 its 
strongest rival, the Columbia Fur company, 
which had Nebraska posts at the mouth of 
the Niobrara and at Council Bluff, was ab- 
sorbed by consolidation. In 1831 the first 
regular steamboat line from St. Louis to the 
upper Missouri, stopping at Nebraska points, 
began business. The line consisted of the 
steamer Yellowstone and was owned by the 
American Fur company. It was now time for 
the new commercial giant to drive the rival 
fur dealers from the country. In the re- 
mote regions of the Missouri, beyond sound 
of the military bugles at Fort Leavenworth, 
this meant civil war and true to her historic 
destiny Nebraska was for some time the seat 
of war. 

The use of liquor by the rival dealers- to 
draw Indian trade had become so notorious 
and appalling in its effects by this time that 



congress passed an act July 9, 1832, forbidding 
the introduction of ardent spirits into the In- 
dian country under any pretense whatever. 
Leclerc, a rival of the American Fur Company, 
had managed to slij) away from St. Louis with 
two hundred and fifty gallons of alcohol in 
keel boats before the new law had been offi- 
cially proclaimed. When he arrived at Belle- 
vue in the summer of 1832 Cabanne, the Ne- 
braska manager for the fur company, resolved 
that it would never do to let so much liquor go 
up the river for a rival trader, sent his clerk 
Sarpy with an armed force and small cannon 
a few miles up the river from Bellevue to a 
spot where the channel ran close to shore. 
When Leclerc's boats appeared the cannon was 
trained on them and they were ordered to sur- 
render on pain of being blown out of the water. 
They obeyed and their goods were brought to 
Bellevue and confiscated, while three of the 
Astor company's men who had deserted to Le- 
clerc were put in irons. This assumption of 
powers of government by the big fur company 
led to an agitation against it at Washington 
and it compromised v.-itli Leclerc by paying for 
his property. At the same time the Astor in- 
terests began a campaign to drive out of busi- 
ness all the rival traders in the Missouri region, 
- — and particularly the firm of Sublette and 
Campbell which started into business in 1833 
with fair capital and the support of General 
Ashley then a member of congress from Mis- 
souri. The method was similar to that since 
employed by the Standard Oil Company and 
great packing house combinations — to sell 
goods regardless of cost until the opposition 
went broke. In a year's time the Sublette firm 
went out of business, and other rivals were 
glad to hunt other fields. When a few years 
later other companies again entered the Amer- 



54 



SEMI-CEXTEXNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Henry Fontenelle 

ican Fur Company's domain the latter by 
shrewd political work secured the revival of 
the office of Indian agent for the upper Mis- 
souri and the appointment of one of its own 
employes, Andrew Drips, as that agent. One 
hand of this great corporation was Politics, the 
other Business and each washed its fellow. A 
good example of its enterprising methods oc- 
curred in 1833 when McKenzie, manager of 
the company's business, finding great difficulty 
in smuggling liquor past the military inspec- 
tion at Fort Leavenworth, started a distillery 
at Fort Union near the mouth of the Yellow- 
stone. The connection this fact has with Ne- 
braska history is — that Nebraska corn was 
shipped up the river by Joshua Pilcher, the 
company's agent at Council Bluff, to run the 
distillery. McKenzie writes repeatedly to Pil- 
cher to load the Nebraska-grown corn On the 
steamboats as the squaw corn grown on the 
upper Missouri is not so good. 

Out of tliis maze of murder, intrigue, war, 
whiskey and throat-cutting competition there 
emerged June 30, 1834, an act of congress pro- 



foundly affecting the political and social future 
of Nebraska. It provided that all of the 
I'nited States west of the ^Mississippi and not 
included in the states of Missouri, Louisiana or 
the territory of Arkansas should be called the 
"Indian Country." No person was permitted 
to trade in the Indian Country without a li- 
cense from the Indian bureau. Any person 
taking goods there to trade without license 
forfeited his goods and a fine of $500. No per- 
son was permitted to make settlement in the 
Indian Country under penalty of $1,000 fine. 
No person, except Indians, was permitted to 
trap in the Indian Country or to hunt there 
except to obtain subsistence. No liquor was 
to be taken into the Indian Country (except 
by permit of the war department for use of 
troops) and no distillery might be operated 
there under severe penalties and right of 
search was conferred upon the military and 
Indian agents. The northern part of the In- 
dian Country, including Nebraska, was an- 
nexed to the judicial district of Missouri and 
all United States laws for the punishment of 
crime were declared in force there. The mili- 
tary was authorized to remove from the In- 
dian Country any persons unlawfully there. It 
was further provided that in an\- trial between 
a white man and an Indian concerning rights 
of property the burden of proof should be on 
the white man. And still further that no pur- 
chase, grant or lease from any Indian tribe in 
the Indian Country should be valid unless 
made by treaty of the United States. 

It will at once be noticed that here was a 
radical program aiming at nothing less than 
white exclusion from this vast empire of ter- 
ritory. We shall better understand it if we 
take note of another great government move- 



EARLY I'ULriK ALAND C().M:\[ERCL\L RELATIONS 



55 



ment going on at this time. This was the 
transplanting of the bulk of the Indian popu- 
lation in the older states east of the Missis- 
sippi to new homes west of that river, — and 
most' of them west of tlu- .Missmiri. In pur- 
suance of tliis plan there were transferred be- 
tween the years l«oO and ISlii to the country 
lying west of a line drawn ncirth and south 
through Kansas City an Indian population of 
some "0,110(1. (_)f these the Creeks, Cherokees, 
Choctaws, Chickasaws and Seminoles, — in all 
about G5,0U(J, — had been located south of the 
Missouri Compromise line in 'what is now 
Oklahoma and Indian Territory. The Dela- 
wares, Kickapoos, Shawnees. I'ottawotamies, 
Ottawa^, Peorias, Kaskaskias, Piankashas, 
Weas, Senecas, Oneidas, Tuscaroras and Qua- 
paws. — in all between 5,000 and 10,000, — had 
been settled in eastern Kansas and, with the 
transfer of the Sacs and Foxes and loways 
west of the Missouri, in southeastern Ne- 
braska. Here was one of the greatest migra- 
tions of modern times carried on forcibly by 
the L'nited States government. This large In- 
dian population thus camped on the edge of 
the plains was of course an effectual block to 
white settlement. The act of 1834 was de- 
signed to make this permanent and to extend 
the protection of the government against white 
settlement to the other tribes, natives of the 
plain-- region, who made treaties with the 
United States. It looked forward to the form- 
ation of a great Indian state which should in- 
clude all the country west of the Missouri 
river. President Andrew Jackson, in his an- 
nual message to congress, December, 1835, 
said : 

"A countrv west of Missouri and Arkansas 



has been assigned to tlie Indians, into which 
white settlements are not to be pushed. No 
political communities can be formed in that 
extensive region, except those which arc es- 
talilished by the Indians themselves, or by the 
L'nited States for them, and with their con- 
currence. A barrier has thus been raised for 
their protection against the encroachments of 
our citizens, and guarding the Indians, as far 
as possible, from those ex'ils which brought 
them to their present condition. Summary 
authority has been given by law to destroy all 
ardent spirits found in their country, without 
waiting the doubtfiil result and slow process 
of their legal seizure." 

By solemn treaty engagements the govern- 
nient promised that the Indians should never 
be disturbed in their home and by the act of 
1834 Sought to make its engagements effective. 
We know what a rope of sand treaties and 
laws are against the adventurous spirits of a 
borderland. Meanwhile two or three points 
deserve notice before taking up the story of 
Nebraska's territorial organization. One is 
that the Indian population in the free terri- 
tory north of the line of 3() degrees and 30 
minutes w^as much less dense than that south 
of that line, and in the coming movement of 
white population west would offer much less 
resistance. 

Another matter deser\-ing mention is that of 
two or three distinguished travelers whose 
work in this period served to make Nebraska 
famous over the civilized world, — while at the 
same time they prescr\-ed for later Nebras- 
kans scenes and memories which, without 
them, would be lost to mankind forever. The 
first of these is George Catlin, dreamer aijd 



56 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



painter, who gave his life to the task of pre- 
serving the faces, the costumes, the scenes, of 
primitive America, whose books and paintings 
will always be classic upon the subjects treat- 
ed. Catlin came up the Missouri river in 183-2 
upon the "Yellowstone" and wintered with the 
Mandan Indians in North Dakota. Coming 
down the Missouri the next year he stopped 
with all the Nebraska tribes, painting repre- 
sentative chiefs, gathering Indian handiwork 
and notes upon Indian life. At Blackbird's 
grave near Decatur he painted the landscape 
and for pay carried away Blackbird's skull to 
Washington. At Bellevue he stopped with 
Indian Agent Daugherty and preserved for us 
the picture of Bellevue at that day, besides 
many other persons and scenes. In 1833 Max- 
imilian, Prince of Wied, a German nobleman 
with a passion for science and travel, came up 
on the annual steamboat. He had a party of 
friends, among them an artist named Bodmer, 
who preserved many scenes which Catlin's 
brush had missed. On his return to Germany 
Maximilian published the story of his travels 
in a book of great beauty and value. 

Thethird traveler was John C.Fremont whose 
expeditions underauthority of the United States 
government made him a candidate for the pres- 
idency and a part of western history. On his 
first expedition Fremont left the mouth of 
the Kansas river June 10, 1842, with a party 
of twenty-eight men, with eight two-mule 
carts and horses to mount the party. Kit Car- 
son, the famous scout, was guide. The route 
was the now familiar one of the Oregon trail 
to Fort Laramie. There is now living on the 
Sioux reservation at Kyle, South Dakota, one 
of the earliest of the Canadian fur traders who 
came to Nebraska, Mr. J. T. McClsukey, who 




Peter A. Sarpy 

remembers seeing Fremont and Kit Carson 
come to the post. After reaching the Wind 
river mountains and gathering scientific and 
engineering data Fremont returned by way of 
the Pawnee villages on the Loup and the 
site of the Nebraska city which now bears his 
name, reaching Bellevue post, now in charge 
of Peter A. Sarpy on October 1 of the same 
year. The second Fremont expedition left 
the mouth of the Kansas river May 29th, 1843, 
and followed that stream to the forks where 
the Republican and Smoky Hill unite. Here 
the route was up the Republican, crossing into 
Nebraska June 25th and still up the Republi- 
can as far as Prairie Dog Creek in Harlan 
county, where the command turned north over 
the divide to the South Platte, up that stream 
to the mountains and finally to the Pacific. 

A parting glance at Nebraska in the forties 
of the last century — just before the train of 
events started that was to make her name the 
one oftenest in the nation's mouth : Bellevue is 
the principal white settlement within the 
state, — a cluster of log houses between the 
bluf? and the river mostly occupied by "amal- 
gamated" families — the whole ruled over by 



EARLY POLITICAL AND COMMERCIAL RELATIONS 



57 



"Peter A. Sarpy, Sir," as lie familiarly styled 
himself, a boisterous, rude, profane frontiers- 
man, yet with many kind qualities beneath a 
rough exterior. Above this on the river are 
some of the trading posts already named, each 
with its little group of frontier characters as 
the nucleus of an Indian constituency. On 
the Loups at the Pawnee villages the brave lit- 
tle missionary band headed by Dunbar and 
Allis struggling in the savage darkness that 
surrounds them. Far out at the other end of 
the state, — in fact just over the line of the 
present Nebraska, — is another and larger nu- 
cleus of border civilization, — Fort Laramie, 
with its adjacent and rival posts, — Fort Platte, 
Fort John, Fort William, and other temporary 
stations not designated by name. None of 
these are L^nited States "forts" as yet, merely 
fur trade fortifications,^ — the chief ones always 
those of the American Fur Company, of which 
Pierre Chouteau, of St. Louis, is now the ruling 



genius. This fur trade around Fort Laramie 
is the big thing of the plains, — the magnet 
which draws Indians and white men from the 
most distant mountains and the far southern 
plains. Many of the men who took part in it 
are living and can tell tales that move the 
blood. At first the goods for this trade were 
brought up to Pierre on steamers and thence 
on horse-back through the Bad Lands to the 
Platte. When the Oregon Trail became a 
fi.xed thing this was changed and caravans 
from the mouth of the Kansas river carried the 
immense fur trade that was soon built up here. 
Between these two nuclei, — Bellevue and Fort 
Laramie, — were the plains that Major Long 
had pronounced "wholly unfit for cultivation" 
and "calculated to serve as a barrier to prevent 
too great an extension of our population west- 
ward," threaded by buii'alo paths and the 
Overland Trail, battle ground for hostile In- 
dians bent on self-extermination. 




U. S. Indian Office. -Santee Indian Agency, August, 1894 



ORGANIZATION 



CHAPTER VII 




Oliver P. Mason, Nebraska's First Chief Justice 

The first movement to organize the terri- 
tory of Nebraska was a "war measure" — a 
means of fighting England for the possession 
of Oregon. The first time the name "Ne- 
braska"' occurs in our aiuials applied to any 
tract of land is in the annual report of Secre- 
tary of War William Wilkins, November 30, 
1844. The secretary discusses the dispute be- 
tween England and the United States over 
Oregon, which had 1)een going on for thirty 
vears, and refers to the results of Fremont's 
first explorations in the Rocky Mountains, just 
published, as foreshadowing a great movement 
of population to the Pacific. He then asks 
congress for two things: First, the organiza- 
tion r)f a new territory in order to throw the 
authority of the federal government around the 
Oregon emigrants. Upon this point I quote in 



full as it is the earliest suggestion of the name 
I have found. He says : 

"The 1 Matte or Nebraska being the cen- 
tral stream leading into or from the South 
Pass would very properly furnish a name to 
the territory which I propose suggesting to be 
erected into a territorial government, with, and 
preliminarv to, the extension in that direction 
of our military posts. I would confine the Ne- 
braska territory to our undisputed possessions 
on this side of the Rocky Mountains. Its 
boundary line would commence at the mouth 
of the Kansas and run up the Missouri river 
to the mouth of the Running Water and pursue 
that ri\er to the head of its northern branch, 
thence due west to the Wind river chain. From 
this point turning southward the line would 
continue alongside the Wind river range and 
the main chain of the Rocky Mountains to the 
head of the Arkansas, and following that 
stream to the mouth of the Pawnee fork, would 
pass by the heads of the Neosho and Osage 
again to the mouth of the Kansas." 

The second item asked from congress is an 
appropriation of $100,000 to erect a chain of 
forts from the Missouri river to the summit of 
the Rocky Mountains. These forts and the 
pioneer settlers who will come into the new 
territory when it is organized are to be a pre- 
paration for war with England. Very signifi- 
cantly the secretary concludes, "troops and 
supplies from the projected Nebraska territory 



ORGANIZATION. 



59 




An Early Method of Transportation 



would be abk' t(i contend for the possession of 
Oregon witli any force coming from the sea." 
The word "Nebraska" itself is from the 
Omaha or Otoe language in both of which Ne- 
brath-ke or Ne-prath-ke means broad or shal- 
low water. It had been applied very naturally 
and appropriately by these Indians to the 
stream which thev had so long known. 




Stephen A. Douglas 

The first l)ill to create the territory of Ne- 
braska was introduced in the house of repre- 



sentatives December IT, 1844, by Stephen A. 
Douglas. The boundaries and the name were 
those Secretary Wilkins had suggested. There 
was no mention of slavery, but the bill pro- 
vided that the laws of Iowa should lie extended 
over Nebraska until a territorial legislature 
met, and that only free white males should 
vote until the legislature should provide other- 
wise. This bill was favorably reported from 
the committee on territories on Januarj' 7, 
1845, went on the general file and never 
reached further consideration. There was a 
reason for this and before going farther in the 
events whicli follow we shall do wisely to re- 
view underlying causes of the conflict which 
culminated in the struggle over the organiz- 
ation of the territory. 

When the first Nebraska bill was put to 
sleep in congressional pigeonholes in the win- 
ter of 1845 a sectional conflict was fast hurry- 
ing to its climax. It had been pending for two 
hundred years. Two streams of migration, — 
one from Jamestown, the other from Plymouth 
Rock, had set out to subdue the American 
continent. Each carried with it its own eco- 
nomic system and type of civilization. They 



60 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Emigrants to Utah and California Crossing Eil<liorn Kivcr 
Twenty-tliree Miles from Omaha. 

moved westward alo-g' parall''! lines of lati- newer parts, northwest and southwest, had 

tude, mingling only lightly along the edges, many common characteristics, forest-bred in 

The northern stream with some re-enforce- the same hardships and dangers of frontier life. 

ment of Dutch and Quaker stock, colonized They fought together with mutual enthusiasm 

New York, Pennsylvania and the region north against England and Indians during the war of 

of the Ohio, while the southern one, supple- 1812 ; their general views of politics and so- 

mented by Scotch-Irish and Huguenot blood, ciety were much the same ; their personal qual- 

filled Kentucky, Tennessee and the country ities of independence and self-confidence were 

south to the Gulf. The immigrants into these quite alike; their problems of internal trans- 



i«Mii::«a*t' 




.p*r > 






' ^ -i ■!( v.; i].; \ 



•Sm 



:-^.: 



\ 




Captain Carlisle's California Train Nooning in tlie Platte Valley 



ORGANIZATION 



61 




L-S/ 



i> 



,^,-1^^-.-, 



The First Claim Cabin in Nebraska, Built by Daniel Norton in 1853, Between Omaha and Bellevue. 

portation and development similar. They were wliy the two wests,— the northwest and south- 
linked together in interest by the great river west,— should not work together for common 
which drew them into one focus of navigation jjolitical and social ends in the new nation, 
and exchange. There seemed no good reason That was, in fact, their tendency and the night- 




Wliere Three btates Meet. Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri 
Descendants of Joseph Roubidou.x, Early Fiench Fur Trader. 



62 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



mare of the older states along the Atlantic, gle. We now recognize it as the beginning of 
One fundamental difference turned into border that struggle. So when the first bill to organ- 
conflict what should have been harmony. Back ize the territory of Nebraska was put away 
of one group of pioneers was a slave labor so- to its last dusty slumber in the winter of 1845, 
ciety ; back of the other a free labor society. we understand now why it Mas so. Other 
Missouri overlapped the western front of phases of the slavery question absorbed the 
both streams of migration. Both of them public mind and heated the congressional 
flowed in. Then it was first realized, north arena; the annexation of Texas, the war with 
and south, that a fundamental ditYerence of Mexico and the fierce debate whether the terri- 
labor svstems meant a war nf institutions. The tory acquired from Mexico shall be slave or 



-gpr jjj.jii|)iwyi" gy-: 








^i^nttt. 



Steamer Omaha Landing Mormons at Florence, Nebraska 



bitter conflict in congress which followed was 
concluded by the Missouri Comjiromise of ls-20 
which fixed for more than thirty years the 
status of Nebraska with reference to slavery. 
This act provided for the admission of Mis- 
souri with her slave constitution, but that "in 
all the remainder of the Louisiana Purchase 
west of Missouri and north of ■U^ degrees and 
30 minutes north latitude, slavery .... is for- 
ever prohibited." This compromise, — one of 
the great lanilmarks in American as well as 
Nebraska history, — was regarded at the time 
as a settlement of the sectional slavery strug- 



free, consume congressional hours. But while 
the Nebraska Bill sleeps in its pigeon hole the 
emigrant's wagon marches on. By 1846 there 
are r2,000 Americans in the Oregon country. 
Summer of the same year witnesses the 
strangest migration Nebraska prairies have 
yet seen — the ^lormon exodus. Ten thousand 
Mormons emptied from Missouri river steam- 
boats upon the Nebraska shores at Florence, — 
an entire church on the march, — more white 
people in one bod}- than Nebraska had ever 
seen before. Several hundred more land at 
Niobrara and during the winter of 1S4G-T tlie 



I 



ORGANIZATION 



63 




Rockportand Old Fort Lisa— Site of Old Saw Mill 

Mormon population in this state was large 
enough to organize a commonwealth with 
their leader Brigham Young for governor, and 
in which none but Mormons might hold office. 
But these are birds of passage. In the spring 
the overland trail is trodden smoother than it 
has been before by the feet, the cart wheels, 
and the cattle of these pilgrims for another 
promised land. The same j'ear which saw the' 
Mormons land on our shores witnessed the 
erection of tlie second I'nited States military 
post within the borders of the present state at 
Old Fort Kearney— established April 22.1840— 
on the bluflf where today stands Nebraska 
City. A garrison was maintained there until 
1848 when the new Ft. Kearney was located on 
the south liank of the Platte river, opposite 
the present city of Kearney and Old Ft. Kear- 
ney is left in charge of a sergeant's s<|uad un- 
til 1854, when it is abandoned. The southern 
democratic administration of President Polk 
has compromised our Oregon claim with (jreat 
Britain, cutting it in two in order to have a 



IrvL- hand I'nr the acquisition of Texas and tiie 
war with Mexico. Te.xas and Oregon, — not 
the old Texas or the Old Oregon, but an Ore- 
gon shorn of half its territory and a Texas 
grown intt) an Empire which includes Arizona, 
Ojlorado. Utah, Nevada and California, — come 
into the American Republic at one long na- 
tional breath. The PIvinoiith Rock and (ames- 
town streams have touciied Pacific tidewater 
at the same moment. 

-March lo, 1848, Senator Stephen .\ . Doug- 
las introduced a second Nebraska Bill. Some- 
one had evidently given him a hint, for this 
new proposed Nebraska is only half as large 
as the former one, lying between the fortieth 
and forty-third degrees of latitude— as the 
present Nebraska does— but extending from 
the Missouri river to the summit of the Rockv 
mountains. There is no mention of slavery 
in the bill and the laws of Iowa are to be ex- 
tended over the new territory until its inhabi- 
tants frame new ones. I'his bill has the same 
fate as its predecessor-death without a hearing, 
but a recommendation to mercy from the com- 
mittee on territories. 

There is a new phase to the Nebraska ques- 
tion now — one not mentioned bv anv of the 
historians who have written upon the topic. 
The Oregon dispute is settled. There is no 
l(jnger need for Nebraska as a base of war 
against England. But the organization and 
settlement of this region is a long step toward 
making the Platte valley mule for a Pacific 
railroad and far-sighted leaders north and 
south have grasped that point. Senator Ben- 
ton, of Missouri, pioneer in tiie propagation of 
Pacific railroad plans, on b'ebruarv 7, 1849, in- 
troduced the first Pacific railroad liill in con- 
gress. 1"he hill is suggestive of how the west- 



64 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



ern mind began to attack the gigantic problem 
of those days, — a railroad across the mountains 
and desert to the Pacific ocean. It provided 
for the reservation of a right of way one mile 
wide from St. Louis to San Francisco, and that 
75% of the proceeds of all land sales in Cali- 
fornia and Oregon, and 50% of the proceeds 
in other states should constitute a railroad 
building fund, — the road to be built by the 
United States government. Now begins to ap- 
pear, in the fierce southern opposition to Sena- 
tor Benton's Pacific railroad bill, the identical 
opposition which all bills for the orgnaization 
of Nebraska must meet. The next ten years in 
congress is one continuous skirmish and bat- 
tle, plot and counterplot, between the repre- 
sentatives of the north and south on the sub- 
ject of Pacific railroad. At first the position 
of the south is against any railroad built by 
the government. All the old arguments of the 
Madison, Monroe and Jackson vetoes against 
federal internal improvements, against the 
constitutionality of such measures, are set 
up in order of battle. When, after a time, it 
begins to appear that the Pacific railroad will 
be built in the not distant future, — by a clever 
fiank movement, the flight is shifted to the 
question, which of several routes is the best. 
Then there are surveys and reports, more sur- 
veys and more reports, but the Pacific railroad 
bill never gets further in congress than the 
stage of debate until after the climax of con- 
tention comes and war between the north and 
south has taken the place of debate. 

The question of organizing the territory of 
Nebraska was therefore complicated with two 
other questions, — the opening of a northern 
route for the future Pacific railroad and the 
crowding of Indian population further south 
and west to still farther obstruct white settle- 



ment in those regions. Rival commercial in- 
terests north and south, thus become partici- 
pants in the struggle which is about to ensue. 
Missouri is a slave state, but her people have 
become the pioneers of the west; her great 
city of St. Louis is the metropolis of the west- 
ern trade and the interests of her active ruling 
class of merchants and politicians are enlisted 
in favor of every proposition to develop the 
\\ est. Accordingly the next move in behalf of 
organizing the new territory originates in Mis- 
souri. December 12, 1852, Representative Hall 
of ^Missouri introduces a bill to organize the 
territory of Platte, which is simply another 
name for Nebraska. This bill was referred to 
the house committee on territories, of which 
\\ . A. Richardson of Illinois, Senator Doug- 
las' personal friend was chairman. Congress- 
man Richardson made over Congressman 
Hall's bill into a new one which he reported 
from his committee February 2, 1853. It pro- 
posed to organize the territory of Nebraska — 
bound on the south by the line of 36 degrees, 
;>t) minutes, on the north by the present north- 
ern line of Nebraska, on the east by Missouri 
and Iowa and on the west by the summit of 
the Rocky mountains. Again no mention is 
made of slavery, but the provision in former 
bills that the laws of Iowa should extend over 
the new territory until changed by its legis- 
lature is left out. The student feels certain, 
while he does not find the proof of his be- 
lief in the documents of the time, that this was 
done as a concession to southern votes in Con- 
gress which would oppose any effort to organ- 
ize territory where free state laws should gov- 
ern during the formative period. On February 
10, 1853, this bill reaches the stage of debate 
in the house. To appreciate the exquisite 
irony, the boundless sarcasm, of this debate. 



ORGANIZATION 



65 



we must recall the compromise of 1850 which 
settled the slavery dispute forever ; — so said 
the active politicians of both whig and demo- 
cratic parties who were trying to keep their 
respective organizations from going to pieces 
upon the issue. Pioth the whig and democratic 
parties in the presidential campaign of 1853 
had declared the act of 1850 the "final settle- 
ment" of the subject. The very mention of slav- 
ery or slave disputewas taboo in polite political 
circles. No well-bred congressman, least of 
all, a southern member, dared discuss the sub- 
ject. Therefore when the bill to organize the 
territor\' of Nebraska, freighted as it was with 
formidable future results, with the opening of 
the Platte Valley route for a Pacific railroad, 
with advantage to northern emigration, and 
ultimate superiority of free state votes in the 
national government, — came up there was a 
wild rush of pro-slavery southern members for 
a masc[uerade fighting costume. Indian Rights 
was the suit. Houston of Alabama, Howard 
of Texas, Brooks of New York, hotly denounce 
the bill as a violation of sacred Indian guar- 
antees. The framers of the bill had endeav- 
ored to meet this criticism by providing that 
both the land and the government of the In- 
dians should be left undisturbed. This mere- 
Iv inflamed its opponents the more. They want 
to know how many white men live in a region 
where it is proposed to go to the expense of 
organizing a territorial government. Rich- 
ardson and 1 lall are obliged in tell tliem that 
the law in force forbids white men settling 
there at all ; but there are, however, between 
five hundred and twelve hundred whites living 
in the region and between fifty thousand and 
sixty thousand emigrants traveling across this 
territory every year on their way to the Pacific 




Ruins of Old Town of Rockport near Site of Fort Lisa 

coast beyond. It is interesting to note in the 
debate some of the touches, both of temper and 
argument, which appear in recent debates 
upon the Philippine question. Congressman 
Howard, of Texas, in particular, boiled over 
with indignation at this ruthless violation of 
Indian rights — organizing a territory over their 
heads without their consent. He was asked 
how long it was since Texas began to measure 
her conduct toward Indians by the Golden 
Rule. Congressman Brooks, of New York, 
dwelt upon the extravagance of setting up a 
territorial government for the benefit of the 
few hundred people. He was answered that 
there were ten to fifteen ihonsand people in 
Missouri ready to move on these lands as soon 
as they were open to settlement. The more 
one reads of the debate the plainer the situa- 
tion is. This was a fight between Chicago and 
St. Louis, on the one band, looking forward to 
the opening of the Platte Valley Pacific rail- 
road ; New Orleans and Texas, on the other, 
trying to block tlie northern route, until they 
can push a railrcjad through on southern paral- 



66 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Old Cannon used by Gen. Hamev against Indians and 

later to drive Sioux from Ponca Agency. Now 

at Niobrara, Nebraska 

lels ; and New York City helping the southern- 
ers to keep her own hold on the California 
trade by sea and the Isthmus of Panama. 

There is one single reference to slavery dur- 
ing the debate in the house. Giddings, the 
well-known radical anti-slavery member from 
Ohio, was a member of the committee on ter- 
ritories which reported the bill. Howe, of 
Pennsylvania, asked Giddings why the Ordi- 
nance of 1787 excluding slavery was not in 
the bill, adding, "I should like to know whether 
he or the committee were intimidated on ac- 
count of the platforms of 1852. (Laughter.) 
The gentleman pretends to be something of an 
anti-slavery man, at least I have understood 
so." Giddings replied by quoting the words 
of the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and said 
"The south line of this new proposed ter- 
ritory is 36 degrees, 30 minutes. It is very 
clear that the territory (in the Louisiana Pur- 
chase) north of that line must be forever free, 
unless the Missouri Compromise be repealed." 



Hall, of Missouri, in closing his speech in favor 
of the bill, exclaimed : "^Vhy, everybody is 
talking about a railroad to the Pacific ocean. 
In the name of God, how is the railroad to be 
made if you will never let people live on the 
lands through which the road passes? Are 
vou going to construct a road through the In- 
dian territory at an expense of $200,000,000 
and say no one shall live on the land through 
which it passes?" 

At the end of this debate the bill passed the 
house by a vote of 98 to 43, — the north and 
west furnishing the majority while South Car- 
olina and other southern states were solidly op- 
posed. The next day the bill was in the senate 
and was taken in charge by Senator Douglas, 
at the head of the senate committee on terri- 
tories. February 17 he reported it favorably 
without changing a line. It is not until the 
crowded hours after midnight of an all-night 
session of the senate about to die March 4,1853, 
that Douglas sees a chance to call up the bill. 
Texas is instantly in opposition. Senator Rusk, 
of that state, exclaims : "I hope the bill will 
not be taken up. It will lead to discussion be- 
yond all question." Senator Atchison, strong 
pro-slavery democrat from Missouri, tries to 
break this opposition and pleads with the 
south to let the bill be taken up, urging that 
Missouri is more deeply interested than any 
state in the Union. He at first hints at the 
real difificulty (slavery) without naming it. 
Finally he boldly takes that bull by the horns : 
"Mr. President : I did not expect opposition 
to this measure from the quarter whence it 
comes, — from Texas and from Mississippi. I 
had objections myself to the bill early in the 
session. One of them was the ^Missouri Com- 
promise. But when I came to look into that 



ORGANIZATION 



67 



question I found tliere was no prospect, no 
hope of a repeal of the Missouri Compromise, 
excluding slavery from that territory. Now, 
sir I am free to admit that at this moment, at 
this hour, and for all time to come, I should 
oppose the organization or the settlement of 
that territory unless my constituents and the 
constituents of the whole south, of the slave 
states of the union, could go into it on the 
same footing, with equal rights and equal 
privileges, carrying that species of property 
with them as other people of this Union. I 
have always been of the opinion that the first 
great error in the political history of the coun- 
try was the ordinance of 1787, rendering the 
Northwest Territory free territory. The next 
great error was the Missouri Compromise. 
But they are both irremediable. We must sub- 
mit to them. I am prepared to do it. It is evi- 
dent the Missouri Compromise cannot be re- 
pealed. So far as that question is concerned 
we might as well agree to the admission of 
this territory now as next year, or five or ten 
years hence." 

"But I must not stop here. The senator 
from Texas suggested another idea. His ob- 
jection was that the Indians in the Nebraska 
Territory would be turned down upon the bor- 
der of Texas." 

(Senator Rusk of Texas : "And scalp the wo- 
men and children upon the border of Texas.") 

Senator Atchison : "Sir, it is the wild Indians 
of whom we are in danger and the Shawnees, 
the Delawares and the Kickapoos and others 
upon your western frontier would be your best 
guard against the wild Comanches, Pawnees 
and others." 

Senator Sam Houston, of Texas, made per- 
haps the most effective speech against taking 



up the l)ill. He spoke from the standpoint of 
a man who had spent his life in Indian camps, 
living the life of an Indian, and made a strong 
plea against disturbing them in their homes be- 
yond the Missouri. Senator Bell, of Tennessee, 
also opposed the bill and remarked, "The 
morning of March 4th is breaking, and only 
five or six hours of the present congress re- 
main." Then Douglas rose to conclude the ar- 
gument for his pet measure. Just a few sen- 
tences from his speech may show its force. 

"The object of this bill is to create a terri- 
torial government extending from the western 
l)Oundary of Missouri and Iowa to Utah and 
Oregon. In other words, it is to form a line 
of territorial governments extending from the 
Mississippi valley to the Pacific ocean, so that 
we can have continuous settlements from one 
to the other. We cannot expect, or hope even, 
to maintain our Pacific possessions unless they 
can be connected in feeling and interest and 
communication with the Atlantic states. That 
can only be done by continuous lines of settle- 
ments, and those settlements can only be 
formed where the laws will furnish protection 
to those who settle upon and cultivate the 
soil." 

"Sir, what have you done for these Pacific 
possessions? What have you done to bind 
them to us? When a proposition was brought 
forward here to establish a railroad connection 
it met with determined resistance. The project 
was crushed and destroyed. When a proposi- 
tion was made for stockades and military colo- 
nization, that also was beaten down. When a 
proposition was made for a telegraph line you 
would not permit that to be established. You 
refused to allow settlers to go there; and when 



68 



SEMI-CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



man and I wish to propose to him a comprom- 
ise on this subject, and that is. that by com- 
mon consent it lie postponed until the Friday 
after the first JNIonday of December next, then 
we shall have ample time and opportunity to 
discuss and in\-estigate it and if we think it 
right we can then pass the bill."' 

Senator Douglas : "I must remind my friend 
from Mississippi that eight years ago, when 
he and I were members of the House of Rep- 
resentatives, I was then pressing the Nebras- 
ka bill, and I had ever since been pressing it. I 
have tried to get it through for eight long 
years. I would take it as iiiuch more kind if 
my friend should propose that by common con- 
sent we take up and pass the bill." 
I asked for a territorial government you as- A motion was then made that the Nebraska 

si^n the absence of settlers as a reason for not bill be laid upon the table. Roll call upon this 




Old Omaha Mission School, Omaha Reservation, 
Built 1856 



granting it. 



motion resulted. — veas, 23, navs 17 and so the 



"I have been struck with the zeal of some bill was killed for that session. An analysis of 
gentlemen in behalf of the poor Indians. Sir, the vote on this motion proves the real na- 
it is necessary for them to avail themselves ture of the opposition — a combination of com- 
of some ar"-uments to resist this bill, and mercial rivals with slave jealousy which is de- 
sympathy for the poor Indian is the argument termined to ])rcvent a Pacific railroad up the 
that was resorted to. It is expressly stipu- Platte valley. Eighteen out of the twenty- 
lated that the Indians do not come under the three votes to lay on the table are from the 
jurisdiction of the territory; that they are not south — both whigs and democrats from that 
embraced within its limits ; that they do not section voting against Douglas' bill. The other 
come under the operation of its laws and are five senators are from the commercial states 
never to be a part of that territory unless by of the northeast. On the other hand, every one 
treaty the Indians shall choose to do so here- of the seventeen senators for the bill are from 
after. It is said by this act, you will drive the the north and northwest, excepting the two 
Indians all down upon Texas. Does the bill senators from Missouri. Before another Ne- 
do it in any way? The Indians now occupy braska bill could be debated in the next con- 
that country. The bill leaves them there. \\'ill gress the southern interests controlling the 
thcv 1)0 any more likely to go down now than Pierce administration had rushed the Gadsden 
they were before?" treaty from Mexico to Washington where it 
Senator Adams of Mississippi: "I know that was ratified, — paying ten million dollars of the 
my friend from Illinois is a good compromise people's money for a strip of desert in New 



ORGANIZATION 



69 



IMexico and Arizona whose onl\- use was to 
open up a better route for a southern Pacific 
railroad. 

Senator Dodge, of Iowa, introduced the next 
Neliraska bill on December 14, 1853, when the 
new congress met. It was practically the same 
bill which had been laid upon the table March 
4. It was referred to the senate committee 
on territories, Senator Douglas, chairman. Janu- 
ary 4, 1854, the Nebraska bill cunies back from 
the committee on territories, but not the Ne- 
braska bill that went to it. New features, 
never before seen, have been grafted upon the 
measure in the committee room. It is provided 
that when Nebraska is admitted into the Union 
as a state or states it shall be "with or without 
slavery, as their constitution may prescribe at 
the time of their admission." Besides this there 
is the famous section 21— the "stump speech 
in the belly of the l)iir' — as Benton called it, 
declaring that it is the true intent and meaning 
of the act to carry into practical operation the 
principles of the compromise of 1850 : First, 
that all questions pertaining to slavery in the 
territories and the new states formed there- 
from are to be left to the decision of the people 
residing in them : Second, that all questions 
involving title to slaves or questions of per- 
sonal freedom are left to local courts with right 
of appeal to the United States Supreme court. 




Early Steamboat Navigation on the Missouri 

historians, and especially Rhodes and Schoul- 
er, emphasize this proposition. Since Doug- 
las' death this view has generally been 
adopted, and I ha\e not seen it anywhere dis- 
puted in print, viz : that Douglas Avas an ac- 
tive candidate for president of the United 
States ; that he realized it was impossible to 
procure the support of the southern democracy 
unless he gave proof of his disposition to pro- 
tect their peculiar interests ; and that the incor- 
poration of the ".Squatter Sovereignty" princi- 
ple into the new Nebraska bill, was the best 
means in his power of giving such proof. 

Is there not another — and a sufficient reason 
for Douglas' action without this one? For ten 
years he had been trying to open this country 



ying straight in the ]Kith of commerce and 
Third, that the Fugitive Slave Law is to be emigration from his own state. For five years 
carried into execution in the territories as well he had seen Pacific railroad and even Pacific 



as the states. 

AVhat was Douglas' motive in proposing 
thus to make Nebraska a cock])it where slav- 
ery and freedom should fight it out? The com- 
mon republican opinion then and since was 
that Douglas was conciliating the south to 
pave his own path to the presidency. The 



telegraph projects blocked by conunercial riv- 
als, south and east. He had seen that those 
interests were strong enough to kill his bill 
the spring before, even when it was strongly 
supported by the slave state of Missouri. He 
knew that a hasty treaty with Mexico was 
being pushed to prepare the way for a Pacific 



70 



SEMI-CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



railroad along southern parallels that would 
build up the rivals of both Chicago and St. 
Louis. No one knew better than he that com- 
merce and migration to the Pacific would fol- 
low the route of the first railroad. No one was 
closer than he to the railroad and commercial 
interests of Illinois. He had secured the first 
land grant ever made by the United States to a 
railroad company — the one to the Illinois Cen- 
tral. The Rock Island, first of all Illinois 
railroads to reach the Mississippi, had just 
been completed to the town whose name it 
now bears. Railroads were destined very soon 
to be constructed across Iowa. The natural 
route to the Pacific thence was tip the broad 
valley of the Platte. If this region were open 
to white settlement the rush of population 
would carry the railroad on its shoulders and 
with it the trade not onh' of the west, but of 
the world that lay beyond, to Chicago. The 
price to pay, — ah, there was a price to pay — 
Douglas had learned that lesson well by ten 
years of defeat, — the price to pay, — was to sat- 
isfy the slave sentimentalists of the south, — 
the sticklers for states' rights, — the "constitu- 
tional" politicians — to offer them, prima facie, 
an equal opportunity with the north in settling 
the new territory and bring with them their 
own peculiar "property," knowing as Douglas 
knew, — as every shrewd observer of events 
might know, — that the superior energy and 
push of the free state migration would win in 
Nebraska as it already had won in Oregon and 
California. 

Such an offer would cut the ground from 
beneath the feet of the New Orleans-Texas- 
Mississippi opponents of the bill. They could 
no longer unite the south against a measure on 
the score of pretended sympathy for the In- 



dian. It is significant that Douglas wrote the 
plan for the new Nebraska bill alone. The 
south itself was surprised ; the north was 
dumbfounded. Senator Atchison's speech, al- 
ready quoted, undoubtedly expressed the view 
of conservative southern men. They did not 
hope for the repeal of the Missouri Comprom- 
ise ; still less did they expect the proposition 
for this repeal from a northern political leader. 
It was like picking up privileges in the road, 
but, human-like, after the first shock of sur- 
prise the southern demand was for "More." 
Besides this, the southerners were afraid of 
Douglas. His moves were too shrewd for 
them and as they did not understand them, 
they naturally concluded there was some sub- 
tle, hidden purpose which they could not 
fathom. They would be satisfied with nothing 
less than an absolute, unequivocal repeal of the 
Missouri Compromise which any southern 
planter could vmderstand without hiring a law- 
yer to guess at its meaning. Senator Di.xon, 
of Kentucky, therefore expressed the southern 
mind when he gave notice on January 16, that 
he should offer an amendment when the Ne- 
braska bill came up for consideration ex- 
pressly repealing, in plain words, the obnox- 
ious Missouri Compromise, and clinching the 
repeal with this sentence : "The citizens of 
the several states or territories shall be at lib- 
erty to take and hold their slaves within any 
of the territories of the United States or of the 
States to be formed therefrom, as if the said 
act (to-wit, the Missouri Compromise) had 
never been passed.'" This amendment was 
certainly a bold slap in the face of the north. 
Douglas at once went to Senator Dixon's seat 
and remonstrated against it. Dixon stood his 
ground firmly, saying that the -Missouri Com- 



J 



ORGANIZATION 



71 




Francisco Salway and Family, Noted Frontiersman 

promise had not been repealed by the com- 
promise of 1850, and that the south was de- 
termined to have the question settled l)eyond 
doubt. On the next day, Tuesday, January 
17, 1854, Senator Douglas ordered a carriage 
and going to the home of Senator Dixon, the 
two men went out on a long drive. The his- 
torian would pay something to know the con- 
versation during that carriage drive. What 
arguments were used, what motives appealed 
to, may be surmised. Tlie conclusion only is 
known. When the drive ended Senator Doug- 
las had adopted the Dixon idea and promised 
to put it in the bill. But Douglas was too 
wary a political general to risk so great a 
change in his plans and so hard a battle at the 
north as he knew must follow without making 
sure of carrying the measure. One thing more 
was needed to insure the passage of the bill in 
its proposed form — that was the active sup- 
port of President Pierce's administration, and 
with that the assistance of every pie-counter 
patron from Maine to Oregon. Jefferson Da- 
vis, then Secretary of War, now plays the im- 
portant role, the story of which he relates in 



his own book. Davis was all powerful with 
President Pierce; they had fought together as 
fellow soldiers in the Mexican War and to the 
fraternal ties formed by that experience was 
added the fact that Davis was the stronger 
man intellectually. On Sunday, Januarj' 32, 
Davis accompanied Senator Douglas to the 
\Vhite House and secured for him a favor 
rarely granted by Pierce, — A Sunday audience 
iin a political subject. The situation, the Ne- 
braska bill and the proposed changes were 
discussed and the visitors carried away from 
the White House the president's promise to 
make the bill an administration measure — 
enough, with the party discipline of that day, 
to insure its passage. 

Monday morning, January 23, Douglas in- 
troduced a substitute — no longer the Nebraska 
bill — but the Nebraska-Kansas bill, providing 
for two territories with the dividing line where 
it now stands between the states of Nebraska 
and Kansas. The bill further declared that the 
Missouri Compromise "approved March 6, 
1820, which was superceded by the principles 
of the legislation of 1850 commonly called the 
Compromise measures, is declared inopera- 
tive." On the next day the W^ashington Union 
newspaper, the official democratic administra- 
tion organ, declared the amended Nebraska- 
Kansas bill had the endorsement of the na- 
tional administration and required the support 
of all faithful democrats. 

But while these politicians' combination.s 
were being formed the north was rising in re- 
bellion. Whig and democrat and abolitionist 
had now a common cause. On the very day 
that the Union declared the Nebraska-Kansas 
bill a test of democratic faith, there appeared 
in print the "Appeal of the Independent Demo- 



72 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




An Old French Canadian Trapper 
crats," signed by Salmon P. Chase, Joshua R. 



ern democrats, fourteen southern democrats, 
and nine southern whigs voted "aye." Four 
northern democrats, six northern whigs, two 
free soilers, one southern whig (Bell of Ten- 
nessee) and one lone southern democrat (Sam 
Houston of Texas) voted "nay." One import- 
ant amendment had been attached to the bill 
against the wish of its friends. This was 
called the "Clayton amendment," proposed by 
Senator Clayton of Delaware. It provided 
that only citizens of the United States should 
vote or hold office in the new territories. This 
was designed to shut foreign immigrants, who 
had declared their intention of becoming citi- 
zens, from settlement in the new region and 
was fastened to the bill by the close vote of 
23 for to 31 against. The Know-Nothing 
movement was just then in the flood of its 
rising power and honeycombed both whig and 
democratic jiarties with its followers. 

The bill now went to the house where Rich- 



Giddings, Charles Sumner, Gerritt Smith, Ed- ardson was still at the head of the committee 
ward Wade, Alexander DeWitt — a fiery re- on territories. In order to secure its early con- 
view of the iniquity of the Nebraska-Kansas sideration he moved, March 21, its reference 
bill and a stirring call of the free states to to that committee. But there were other rocks 
action. The free states responded. Mass and rapids in the river besides those raised by 
meetings, newspapers, pulpits, voiced a mighty northern abolitionists. There was a big demo- 
chorus of protest. The legislatures of five cratic quarrel in the all important state of New 
northern states sent solemn resolutions against York as to who should hold the offices. There 
the bill to Congress. Douglas discovered that were two factions, the "Hards" and the "Softs" 
he must drive hard, and he drove. From Jan- or as they were more picturesquely called, the 
uary 30 until March 3 the bill was debated in "Hunkers" and "Barnburners." The "Hards" 
the senate every day in the intervals of other were the fellows who always voted the demo- 
business, with Douglas urging every day to- cratic ticket no matter who was nominated or 
ward a final vote. On the night of March 3, what was in the platform. They naturally felt 
Douglas spoke from midnight until daybreak, that their superior democratic virtue entitled 
closing the debate. them to all the federal offices and were ag- 
The roll Avas called and the senate passed grieved just at this juncture because they were 
the bill by a vote of 37 to 14. Fourteen north- not getting them all. They hung out their 



ORGANIZATION 73 

democratic faniil}- washing on the congres- meiits were held back until the bill was passed 
sional clothesline to air, and page upon page Every democratic congressman felt the mighty 
of the congressional record at this period is force of the party machine, joined with the 
filled with the i^ap of lacerated democratic pleadings of its personal friends at home for 
shirt tails. When Mr. Richardson, acting his office. The business of getting out of the way 
appointed part as the lieutenant of Senator those fifty bills on the calendar which had 
Douglas, moved that the Nebraska-Kansas precedence of the Nebraska-Kansas bill was 
bill be referred to his committee, Mr. Cutting, pushed with extraordinary energy, and on 
a "Hunker" democrat from New York, moved I\Iay 8, Richardson moved that the House re- 
to refer it. to the committee of the whole, where solve itself into a committee of the whole for 
there were fifty bills ahead of it which must be the purpose of laying aside, one by one, the 
disposed of before it could be reached. In eighteen bills which then remained ahead of 
spite of all that Richardson and Douglas could his own Nebraska bill. This was done, — the 
do the House api)ro\-ed Cutting's proposition minority fighting every inch of the road. Rich- 
by a vote of lid to !).j, and there the Nebraska- ardson then moved a substitute for his own 
Kansas bill lay beneath an avalanche of other bill. This substitute was the senate bill with 
legislation. A fist fight between Cutting and a the Clayton amendment cut out. The demo- 
fellow democrat, — Breckenridge of Kentucky, crats of the north had found that too heavy a 
—was one of the features of the occasion. burden to carry. It meant losing their foreign 
The opposition of the north grew louder born voters en masse and certain defeat in sev- 
every day. It astonished those who had reck- eral northern states. 

oned on an uprising. Out of 3,800 clergymen Debate on the senate bill went on in the 

of all denominations in New England, three house until May 11, when Richardson rose and 

thousand signed a protest which was sent to moved to close debate the next day at twelve 

congress. In the northwest five hundred o'clock and on that motion demanded the pre- 

clergymen signed a similar protest and sent it vious question. The opposition implored, de- 

to Douglas himself to present, — which he did nounced and threatened, but Richardson would 

with some caustic remarks upon preachers not yield. Then began a filibuster, similar to 

who meddled in politics. The leading north- the one that marked the repeal of the silver 

ern newspapers were filled with reports of purchasing clause in the summer of 1893. 

mass meetings of laborers, farmers and mer- Every known means to prevent a vote was 

chants to protest against any further extension employed by the minority. All day the 11th, 

of the system of negro slavery. But there was all night, all the next day and until midnight 

another power in the field, — mightier for the was spent in ceaseless roll calls on dilatory 

moment than pulpit or press, — the power of motions. Both sides were worn out and ad- 

the pie-counter. The Pierce administration journed. On Monday, IMay 15, the fight was 

made it distinctly known that no democrats renewed. The Pacific railroad bill here ap- 

need apply for office who did not push for the peared again on the scene, — inseparable from 

Nebraska-Kansas bill. Important apjioint- the fate of Nebraska. It had been made a spe- 



74 



SE^II-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Artesian Well at Lynch, Nebraska 



cial order for consideration that week. A two- 
thirds majority was required to postpone the 
special order. There was not a two-thirds 
majority in favor of the Nebraska bill, but 
there were enough opponents of the Pacific 
railroad among those voting against the Ne- 
braska measure to give Richardson the two- 
thirds majority for its postponement. A mo- 



tion to close debate on the Nebraska bill at 
the end of the week then prevailed. General 
debate was thus closed, but there still re- 
mained under the rules the privilege of mov- 
ing amendments and making five minute 
speeches upon them. How to cut oflf the flood 
of amendments and five minute speeches in 
the committee of the whole was the knotty 



ORGANIZATION 



75 



problem for the majority. It was solved by 
Alexander H. Stephens, of Georgia, who moved 
to strike out the enacting clause. This took 
precedence over any other inotion to amend. 
Mr. Stephens explained upon the floor that his 
motion was made for the purpose of getting 
the bill bej'ond the reach of amendment or 
debate and that therefore the friends of the 
bill should support his motion. They did so. 
The enacting clause was accordingly stricken 
out. This was equivalent to rejecting the bill 
and made it necessary at once for the commit- 
tee of the whole to rise and report its action to 
the house. The house voted down the report 
of the committee of the whole and then had the 
bill in its own hands where a simple majority 
could close debate and order a vote whenever 
it desired. The end so long fought for was 
reached, and at midnight, May 22, the House 
roll was called on the passage of the Senate 
bill, with the Clayton amendment stricken out. 
The vote was 113 to 100 in favor of the bill. 
Forty-four northern democrats, fifty-seven 
southern democrats and twelve southern whigs 
voted for the bill ; forty-five northern whigs, 
forty-two northern democrats, seven southern 
whigs and two southern democrats voted 
against the bill. 

One thought — neglected by the average par- 
tisan mind — is suggested to the retrospective 
reader at the close of this long, fierce, sectional 
fight upon the subject of slave versus free ter- 
ritory : What has become of the rights of the 
Indian? No better illustration can, perhaps, 
be found in the annals of American history of 
the hypocrisy of political discussion than a 
comparison of the debate upon the Nebraska 
bill in the winter of 1853 with the debate upon 
the Nebraska-Kansas bill in 1854. The real 



issues involved on both occasions are the 
same, a year's time only intervenes, but the 
discussion of 1853 turns almost wholly upon 
Indian rights, and slavery is scarcely men- 
tioned, while the discussion of 1854 turns al- 
most wholly upon the slavery issue and the 
rights of the Indian are forgotten, except by 
one or two real friends of the Indian like Sen- 
ator Sam Houston. The southern statesmen 
who fought against the Nebraska bill of 1S53, 
because of their high regard for the sacred 
pledges made in the Indian treaties, in 1854 
are ready to fight with their fists as well as 
their tongues in favor of a bill meaning the 
same thing for the Indian. If it is true that 
the dominant motive in Douglas' mind was to 
widen the commercial and political horizon of 
his own state and his own city, — to make Chi- 
cago what she is today, the metropolis of the 
Mississippi Valley and the future greatest city 
in the world, — no better tribute can be found 
to his own far-sighted political shrewdness 
than this changed attitude of the south. 

On May 25 the senate agreed to the changes 
made by the house, thus striking out the Clay- 
ton amendment, and on May 30, 1854, Presi- 
dent Pierce signed the bill and Nebraska Ter- 
ritory was born after the fiercest political tight 
in the nation's history. The slave sentimental- 
ists of the south had swallowed the Douglas 
bait. They had secured the "equality" their 
constituents had clamored for — the right to 
take their slaves with them into the Nebraska 
and Kansas territory, — an empty privilege. 
To get this they had wrought a revolution in 
the north. They had welded the minds of 
northern whigs, democrats and abolitionists 
into one controlling political determination — 
no more slave territorv in the United States. 



76 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



This determination appeared forthwith in the 
organization of the republican party, — which 
owes its origin to, and dates its birth from the 
summer which witnessed, the enactment of 
the Nebraska-Kansas bill. 



and valleys of Nebraska and Kansas were fill- 
ing with frontiersmen and the broad emigrant 
trail up tlie Platte grew broader every year, 
its margin dotted with ranches, inviting the 
advent of the coming iron track binding the 



The shortsighted slavery statesmen of the cast and the west together? Is it any surprise 



south were the best friends of the republican 
party from the day of its organization. Their 
action drove the German immigrants into its 
ranks. The passage of the Nebraska-Kansas 
bill opened the northern path to the Pacific for 
settlement and survey. What use to agitate 
for a Pacific railroad across the sands of New 
Mexico and .\rizona while the fertile prairies 



that among the rivals of Chicago and St. Louis, 
— in New Orleans, in Texas and in Mississippi, 
— the newspapers of the day report no rejoic- 
ing over the passage of the Nebraska bill? 
There, at least, were southerners smart enough 
to know they had lost a battle — a battle for 
commercial supremacy, the foundation for all 
other supremacy. 



NEBRASKA TERRITORY 



CHAPTER VIII 




Gov. Francis Burt 

The territorial life of Nebraska began with 
the arrival of Governor Francis Burt, of South 
Carolina, who arrived at Bellevue October 7, 
lSr)4, took his official oath of office October 16, 
and died October IS. Thomas E. Cuming, of 
Michigan, had been appointed Secretary of 
State and became acting governor upon his 
death. There were a score of pressing public 
questions at the threshold of the new territory. 
The governor was given authority by law to 
take a territorial census, to divide the territory 
into legislative districts, to call an election for 
members of the first territorial legislature and 
to fix the place where they should hold their 
first session. By treaty with the Omaha and 
Otoe Indians in April, 1854, while the Nebras- 
ka-Kansas bill was yet pending in Congress, 
the United States had acquired title to Ne- 



liraska land fronting on the .Missouri river and 
extending west about one hundred miles. This 
was not yet surveyed, but was open for white 
settlement and adventurous spirits swarmed 
across the river all the way from Rulo to Nio- 
brara, to locate townsites and take their pick of 
choice tracts of land. Council Bluft's, Iowa, 
was then a town of about two thousand peo- 
ple, the largest place on the Missouri river op- 
posite the Nebraska shore. Enterprising citi- 
zens of Council BluiTs had already driven 
stakes, in the year 1853, on the Nebraska hill- 
side directly opposite their town. In 1854 the 
townsite and ferry company began booming 
the new location as the future capital of Ne- 
braska and the river crossing of the Pacific 
raliroad. In this work they had of course the 
active assistance of the entire population of 
Council Bluft's who planned thereby to make 
their town the real terminus and departure 
point for the Pacific coast. 

C)maha and Bellevue. then, became imme- 
diate rivals for the Nebraska territorial capital. 
Florence, Plattsmouth and Nebraska City were 
also candidates. Bellevue had the advantage of 
possession, the advantage of the l)etter 
site, the advantage of long historic set- 
tlement and association in men's minds as 
the principal, — nay, the only, — town in eastern 
Nebraska. It was the site of the Omaha, Otoe 



78 



SE^^II-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Gov. Thomas B. Cuming 

and Pawnee Indian Agency, the site of the 
Presbyterian mission church and school, the 
location of the first newspaper, — the Nebraska 
Palladium, printed on Nebraska soil, the head- 
quarters of the fur trade and the residence of 
the acting governor and other territorial offi- 
cers. 

Naturally, the citizens of Bellevue felt they 
had a sure thing and in their case, as so often 
in human experience, over-confidence ended in 
defeat. The first step in proceedings was the 
territorial census, which was taken simultan- 
eously in all districts bordering on the Missouri 
river, beginning October 31, 1854. The returns 
showed two thousand, seven hundred and nine- 
teen white settlers and thirteen slaves in Ne- 
braska territory. More than half of these, un- 
questionably, were actual residents of Iowa 
and Missouri. Governor Cuming's next step 
was the division of eastern Nebraska into coun- 
ties and the apportionment of members of the 
first territorial legislature among them. In this 
apportionment it became perfectly plain that 
Governor Cuming was in favor of Omaha. A 
majority of the members of both houses was 
apportioned north of the Platte and Omaha 
and Bellevue were grouped together in the one 



county of Douglas. At the election which fol- 
lowed no party lines were drawn, no political 
parties were in fact organized. In Douglas 
county the struggle was between an Omaha 
ticket and a Bellevue ticket for members of 
the legislature and Omaha won. The ferry be- 
tween Council Blufifs and Omaha was in good 
working condition. On December 20, 1854, 
Governor Cuming issued his proclamation con- 
vening the first session of the Nebraska legis- 
lature in Omaha January 16, 1855. The citi- 
zens of Bellevue might rave and gnash their 
teeth, denounce the governor as a boodler and 
demand his removal. They did all these things. 
But there was no going back on the returns. 
The governor was master of the situation. Oma- 
ha became the capital of Nebraska and Belle- 
\ue a quiet village of historic memories 
and the seat of a Presbyterian college. It re- 
quired nerve to do all these things, to face the 
storm they roused, but Cuming had the nerve 
and to him Omaha owes her place on the map. 
Omaha had about one hundred and fifty peo- 
ple and a brick building hastily erected near 
Ninth and Farnam and donated by the Ferry 
company was the place where the first territor- 
ial legislature met pursuant to the governor's 
proclamation. The senate (or council as it was 
then called) was composed of thirteen mem- 
bers, — the house of twenty-six. The leading 
theme in the message of Acting Governor 
Cuming was — the Pacific railroad. He urged 
that the valley of the Platte was the natural 
route of the road and pictured the commerce 
of India, China and the Pacificlslands crossing 
Nebraska. He recommended a memorial to 
congress for the transcontinental telegraph as 
the precursor of a railroad, asked liberal provi- 
sion for education and concluded his reference 



NEBRASKA TERRITORY 



79 



in the center of this great confederacy. Our 
fellow citizens are brothers from nearly every 
state. In our admission geographical lines 
were erased between the north and the south. 
Let us institute no line of demarcation within 
our territorial boundaries, separating commun- 
ities of embittered feelings. Let mutual conces- 
sion and conciliation characterize our public 
acts, so that tranquility and satisfaction may 
the more speedily prevail over the conflict of 
local interests." 

The leading features of this first session 
were, a bitter fight to take the capital from 
Omaha, which failed, — the adoption of the 
Iowa code of laws, the granting of numerous 
ferry, bridge and college charters, provision for 
a public school system — the enactment of a 
prohibitory liquor law and of a territorial claim 
club law. This last act was practically an at- 
tempt to abrogate the United States statute 
for the acquisition of land. It has been stated 
that the Indian title had been extinguished in 
eastern Nebraska. No surveys were made un- 
til 185.5 and 1856. All the first settlers were 
therefore "squatters." When the land was sur- 
veyed and the land office opened each would 
be entitled to a pre-emption not exceeding 160 
acres. ''Claim clubs" were organizations de- 
signed to secure for each pioneer "Squatter" 
320 acres instead of the 160 granted by the 
United States. They were botuid together by a 
secret ritual and oath, to protect each 
other in this undertaking. The theory was 
tliat each pioneer was equitably entitled to 
320 acres and should hold the extra 
quarter section until some tenderfoot came 
on from the east to whom he might sell his 
"right" thereby harvesting enough cash to pay 



L^ncle Sam $1.25 per acre for the quarter said 
uncle permitted him to pre-empt. Claim club 
members respected each other's claims and if 
an outsider attempted to "squat" on any tract 
so claimed he was "visited" by a mass meeting 
of the club, — generally provided with a rope 
of convenient length. These claim clubs were 
the real government of the territory for the 
first few years in the all-important matter of 
land titles. Distinguished men like John M. 
Thayer and A. J. Poppleton were presidents of 
the Omaha claim club. The first legislature, be- 
ing composed of members of claim clubs, 
passed an act legalizing claims of 320 acres and 
providing penalties for trespassing upon them. 
The act was never tested in court, its enforce- 
ment generally being by the swift and vigorous 
claim club mass meetings. 

One of the first acts the aspiring democratic 
statesmen of the new territory felt called upon 
to do was to pass resolutions approving the 
principle of "popular sovereignty" as em- 
bodied in Douglas' bill. This resolution passed 
the house by a vote of 21 to 4 and the senate 
by 9 to 4. Douglas was the rising star in the 
democratic sky at this time and that no doubt 
influenced the vote. Indicative of the senti- 
ment on the negro question is the fact that a 
bill to prevent the settlement of free negroes 
in Nebraska passed the house but was killed 
in the senate. 

The first free public school act in Nebraska 
was passed March 16, 1855. The state librarian 
was also state superintendent of schools. The 
old-fashioned plan of examining teachers by 
the school board which employed them was 
in the law. The county superintendent organ- 
ized school districts upon petition, but levied 
the scfiool tax himself — not less than three. 



80 



se:mi-cextexxjal history of Nebraska 



nor more than five mills. Two '"universities" 
were incorporated by this first session, — Ne- 
braska University at Fontanelle in Dodge 
county, and Simpson university at Omaha, — 
besides the Nebraska City Collegiate and Pre- 
paratory Institute. About a dozen other univer- 
sities and colleges were incorporated in the 
next two years. 

During this first legislative session Mark AV. 



raid. Two persons had been killed and the 
community stampeded. Under orders of Gov- 
ernor Izard. Jolm M. Tha}-er, who had just 
been appointed a brigadier general of militia, 
gathered a company of forty men and made a 
rapid march to Fontanelle. No Indians were 
seen by the militia and they were probably a 
hundred miles away when the troops arrived. 
To protect the outer settlers a companv was 




Sioux Indian Fourth of July Celebration, July 4, 1903 



Izard, of Arkansas, who had been appointed 
governor by President Pierce to fill the vacan- 
cy made by the death of Governor Burt, ar- 
rived and assumed his duties, making an ad- 
dress before both houses on February 20, 1S.-).t. 
Among the events which marked this year 
of Nebraska life was the Fontanelle or "Cat- 
fish War" as it was called bj^ some of the 
participants. July 30 a courier arrived at 
Omaha from Fontanelle with news of a Sioux 



stationed during the rest of the summer at 
Elkhorn City and another at Tekamah. The 
soldiers at these posts beguiled the time by 
fishing and owing to their remarkable luck in 
landing big channel cat named the hostilities 
the "Catfish War." The cost to the territorial 
treasury was $9,100. 

The Fontanelle settlement deserves a word 
in this place. It was the only colony of these 
earliest settlement days and was the outgrowth 



NEBRASKA TERRITORY 



81 



of the "Ouincy Colony" organized al (Juincy, 
Illinois, June '24, 1854. In September, 1854, the 
advance guard of the colony came to Bellevnc 
and under the guidance of Logan Fontanelle 
located a tract of land on the east side of the 
Elkhorn river, about twelve miles northeast of 
where Fremont now stands. In the early 
spring of 1855 the colonists came on. Plans 
for the future were made. Two miles square 
were laid off for a townsite and grounds for 
the coming state capitol and university. The 
university was chartered bv the legislature 



lage on the high bluff southof Fremont theysaw 
with jealous eye the steady encroachment of 
the white man on their hunting grounds. .Small 
parties of young men would slip away and 
while too prudent to attack the settlers, they 
were not disposed to miss any good chances 
at stealing cattle. In answer to frequent com- 
plaints Gov. Izard appointed John M. Thayer 
and ( ). I). Richardson as representatives of 
the dignity of the Territory of Nebraska to 
visit the Pawnees and stop the outrages. May 
30 they left Bellevue with a guide and inter- 




Island in Platte River, opposite Old 

and sciiool was actually opened in 185S. the 
Congregational association having taken the 
institution under its patronage. l-"or a num- 
ber of years the town and school struggled on, 
but in 18G5 the school building burned and the 
location of the Union Pacific road a few miles 
away ended the ambitions of Fontanelle, once a 
prosperous village of five hundred ]ieople, 
now mostly a cornfield, whose site may be seen 
by the traveler on the Northwestern railroad 
up the Elkhorn valley. 

Early in the spring of 1855 the Pawnee In- 
dians began to make free with the property of 
settlers in the Fdkhorn vallcv. I'rom their vil- 



Pawnee Village, Fremont, Nebraska 

preter and arri\ed at Peta-le-sharu's lodge the 
second day. The council which followed was 
the first meeting of official representatives of 
Xebraska with the aboriginal inhabitants. It 
was held in the great council lodge on the 
bluff overlooking Fremont, and was attended 
by all the principal chiefs of the village. They 
denied any knowledge of raiding the white peo- 
ple and professed themselves friends of the 
great father and all the little fathers. General 
rha\ er delivered his "ultimatum" — which was, 
no more stealing or war on the Pawnees, and 
returned across the i'latte ri\-cr — where he 
found that in his absence the Pawnees had 



82 SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 

stolen all the commissary supplies of the expe- The charters of these concerns is an inter- 
dition from his wagon and the representatives esting one for the student of financial experi- 
of the Territory of Nebraska were obliged to ments. Each bank was authorized to open 
go hungry. The original receipt for $86.75 ex- doors and begin business as soon as half of 
penses of this expedition — on old style blue its initial capital was, — not paid in, but "sub- 
paper is amons; the archives of the historical scribed." Each bank was authorized to issue 
society. its notes and transact a general banking busi- 
The second annual census of the territory ness and "to buy and sell property of all 
taken October 15, 1855, disclosed a population kinds." The charters were to run for twen- 
of 4,494, near two-thirds of them south of ty-five years and the stockholders were indi- 
the Platte. The assessed valuation of the ter- vidually liable to redeem the notes issued in 
ritory was $617,822. The territorial treasury gold and silver. In actual practice these acts 
was empty and the second session of the terri- of incorporation permitted a bank to issue its 
torial legislature — which met in Omaha De- own paper money notes and to receive deposits 
cember 18, 1855, — authorized the treasurer without a dollar of capital stock being paid in. 
to borrow $4,000 on the credit of the territory, The door for unlimited speculation was left 
paving not more than fifteen per cent interest, open by permitting banks "to buy and sell any 
The tax for territorial purposes was two mills kind of property." The stock of the banks was 
on the dollar, — and very little money coming also transferable, — so that the original incor- 
in. porators might, if they chose, issue the full 
This second session of the Nebraska legisla- amount of notes authorized — half a million dol- 
ture, lasting from December IS, 1855, until lars — and then by transferring the stock to ir- 
Tanuary 26, 1856, may appropriately be named responsible parties leave the note holders 
the "Wild Cat Session." The great economic without recourse. 

feature was the incorporation of territorial There were a few men in the territorial leg- 
banks of issue, whose paper promises were islature who had sense and courage enough to 
soon to flood the little frontier fringe of settle- oppose such bare-faced swindling schemes as 
ments, and swell the rising tide of a great real these acts. Conspicuous among them were Dr. 
estate "boom." This first crop of Nebraska (ieorge L. jNIiller and J. Sterling Morton, but 
wild cats included the following: the opposition was walked over like an out- 
Initial Authorized classed football team in the general mad rush 
Capital. Capital. ^^^ fictitious prosperity. Flush times followed. 
Bank of Florence, at Flor- 4.u u c i 

ence $100,000 $500,000 ^he year 18o6 was the golden era of specula- 
Bank of Nebraska, at Om- tion in infant Nebraska. Townsites sprang 

alia • . ■ 100,000 500,000 ^^^ ^^.^^^. ,^j,i ^j^^ ^^ ^^^ Missouri river 

Platte Valley Bank, at Ne- ' • . '' 

braska Citv 100,000 500 000 ^"d even the interior as far as the Elkhorn and 

Fontanelle Bank, at Belle- the headwaters of Salt Creek was dotted over 

vue 100,000 500,000 . , . . , . j -i j ^ 

T.T 1 -vr ,1 r. 1 4- With future countv seats and railroad centers. 
Nemaha Valley Bank, at 

Brownville .' 50,000 500,000 The favorite plan was to issue townsite 



NEBRASKA TERRITORY 



83 




Dr. Geo. L. Miller 

"stock" with beautiful, lithographed certifi- 
cates which were freely traded for all kinds of 
property. Settlers from the east came flocking 
in to enjoy the wonderful prosperity of the 
frontier. They, too, were soon infected and 
engaged in the business of buying town lots, 
staking out additional townsites and projecting 
new banks. The census taken in October, 
185G found a population of 10,716 — more than 
double what it had been twelve months be- 
fore. 

The business of starting new universities 
and colleges prospered proportionately with 
the increase in new townsites. A large num- 
ber of ferry and brid,ge charters were granted 
by the legislature to afford easy communica- 
tion between the embryo cities, which included 
such well-known places as St. John City, Cali- 
fornia City, Jacksonville, Marietta and Brad- 
ford. A Saline company was incorporated to 
carry on the business of manufacturing salt in 
the Salt Creek basin with a capital of $50,- 
000. To relieve the legislative mind from the 
tension of these large speculative projects 
there was the usual annual fight over the re 
moval of the capital. In this r)maha"s shrewd 
ness was again victorious by tlie narrow ma 
jority of two votes. 



When the third territorial legislature met in 
December 1856, there was a large demand for 
more banks in the territory. As one of the de- 
baters expressed it "having supplied all the 
towns in the territory with banks, they now 
proposed to have one at every crossroads." 
Acts of incorporation were passed for six more 
banks, — the Clinton Bank, Bank of Columbus, 
Pacific Bank, Waubeek Bank, of Desoto, Bank 
of Plattsmouth and Tekamah Bank. All of 
these bills were vetoed by Governor Izard. The 
charters for the Bank of Tekamah and Desoto 
Bank were passed over the Governor's veto, 
the others failed by a close vote. To make the 
financial situation still more interesting some 
of the banks which had failed to get charters 
from the legislature had on hand a fine stock 
of nicely lithographed notes which they pro- 
ceeded to issue without any charter. There 
were numerous charges of bribery in connec- 
tion with the passage of these bank bills 
and assertions that the banks which had 
been chartered the year before in their selfish 
desire to monopolize the money business in 
Nebraska had prevented the incorporation 
of others. Including two or three insurance 
companies which had secured charters per- 
mitting them to do a banking business 
there was now a bank for every thou- 
sand people and $750 banking capital for 
every man, woman and child in the territory. 
The total issue of Wildcat paper notes by 
these concerns is stated by a newspaper of the 
day at $480,000. In the autumn of 1857 the 
crash came. The banks suspended payments. 
The individual liability of the stockholders 
vanished like an early October frost and al- 
most every dollar of the entire paper money- 
issue proved a total loss in the hands of the 



84 SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 

people. Some of them are now preserved as were revived by a libel suit brought by Gover- 
relics of past folly. At the very same time the nor Furnas against the Omaha Herald. The 
price of town lots and paper pictures repre- enemies of Omaha were able to accomplish one 
senting townsite shares sank out of sight, thing, however. The southern part of Doug- 
Misery and despair drove out prosperity and las county, including Bellevue, was cut oiif and 
speculation. Everybody was insolvent. Ef- erected into Sarpy county, which it has re- 
forts to collect debts were ridiculous.An execu- mained ever since. 

tion issued against the Bank of Tekamah, The election for delegate to congress in the 
which had $90,000 in paper notes outstanding, fall of 1857 was a four-sided contest, in which 
brought a return from the sherifT that the only Fenner Ferguson received 1,654 votes, Bird 
property he could find was a ten by twelve B. Chapman, 1,597, B. F. Rankin, 1,30-1 and 
board shanty, used as the banking house, and John M. Thayer, 1,288. All of these candi- 
furniture consisting of an old table and brok- dates were democratic, but no party lines lie- 
en stove. This bitter experience of territorial ing drawn as yet in the territory every man 
Nebraska effectually killed wildcat banking. ran independent on his own nomination and 

Part of the work of the legislature of 1856-7 organized his own campaign, 
was the renewal of the assault upon Omaha On December 9, 1857 the fourth territorial 
by the South Platte members of the legisla- legislature convened — which was to become 
ture who had never forgiven the citizens of the most famous in Nebraska's territorial an- 
that town for their sharp practice in seizing nals. The center of the storm area again was 
and holding the capital. The South Platte was the question of capital removal. Congress had 
now strong enough to control things and appropriated $50,000 to erect a suitable capital 
promptly passed a bill removing the capital building, which had been begun on the site 
to the town of Douglas near the head of Salt where now stands the Omaha high school 
Creek, in Lancaster county. Governor Izard building. Governor Izard had the disburse- 
as promptly vetoed the bill, assigning, among ment of the $50,000 and had handled it so well 
other reasons that there was not a house in that it did not finish the first story. The city 
the town of Douglas, that no one knew where of Omaha had taken the matter in hand and 
it was, and the onlv evidence of its existence issued $(10,000 in city scrip which circulated as 
was in the shape of $500 printed stock certifi- money. Some of the people who held this 
cates which were being freely circulated about scrip became anxious about security for the 
the legislature. The effort to pass the bill over same and the Omaha people had given in a 
the governor's veto was almost successful, but statement of assets which included the ground 
here again ( )maha's luck did not desert her. where the unfinished capitol stood. These 
Two members from the South Platte country, transactions led to an investigation by the leg- 
— Furnas and Finney of Nemaha, — changed islature and the development of a good deal of 
their votes and the capital remained at Omaha, animosity. An Otoe county member intro- 
Bitter charges were made in connection with duced a new capital remo\al liill. The people 
these votes and long years afterward they of ( )maha were by this time very tired of caj)i- 



NEBRASKA TERRITORY 



85 



tal removal hills. The Douglas county mem- 
bers declared that no more bills of any kind 
should pass the legislature until the capital re- 
nmval hill was withdrawn and began to kill 
time with moot iliscussions to make the threat 
good. January T, 1S58 the trouble reached its 
climax in the house. Speaker Decker, when 
attempting to take the chair was seized by 
some of the Omaha members, assisted by the 
Omaha lobljy, thrown on the floor and rolled 
under a table. A free-for-all fracas followed.. 
The next day both the house and the senate 
passed a resolution adjourning to meet at Flor- 
ence. Accordingly a majority of both houses 
met at Florence and proceeded with legisla- 
tive business until January 1(5, when the ses- 
sion expired by limitation. During this time 
numerous bills were passed, one of them re- 
moving the capital to the city of Neapolis on 
the Platte river — a paper town which the im- 
agination may plausibly locate near the present 
town of Cedar Bluffs. Governor Izard had left 
the territory October ,^8, 1857. On January 11, 
1858 his successor, W . .\. Richardson, of Illi- 
nois, arrived, — the same Richardson who as 
Douglas' lieutenant had charge of the Nebras- 
ka-Kansas Bill during the struggle of 1854 in 
congress. Governor Richardson declined to 
recognize the Florence legislature on the 
ground that it was not in session at the seat 
of government. The legislature replied in a 
letter reciting the insults and indignities 
heaped upon their members at Omaha and de- 
claring that it was unsafe to hold its sessions 
there. 

On ;\rarch 23, Secretary of State Cuming 
died, — probably the ablest of all the early ter- 
ritorial leaders in Nebraska political life. 
President Buchannan a])pointe<l to succeed 




Gov. W. A. Richardson 
him J. Sterling Morton, who entered upon his 
duties July 12. 

There were no political parties organized in 
Nebraska until 1858. Factions and sectional 
divisions existed, nothing more. All were 
democrats, of the good old Jacksonian stock. 
There was great contempt for "black, nigger- 
lo\'ing republicans" as they were generally 
called, and they had not dared assert them- 
selves in the territory. The first territorial 
meeting for the organization of repulilicans 
that we have any printed account of was on 
?ilay 27, 1S58, in Omaha. The meeting was 
held with closed doors in order to keep out in- 
truding democrats who were very curious to 
see what sort of an animal a "black republi- 
can" was. Their declaration of principles in- 
cluded the control of the territories by con- 
gress, free labor and free speech, homestead 
act, land grants to the Pacific railroad and op- 
position to banks of issue whose notes were 
not secured. 

The first democratic territorial convention 
was held at Plattsmouth June 3, 1858. It de- 
clared in favor of "popular sovereignty," a 
homestead law and that the incorporation of 
banks was anti-democratic. At a special ses- 
sion i:)f the legislature which met September 



8 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



21, in order to transact some business which 
the Florence "rebellion" had left undone, the 
distinction between democrats and "black re- 
publicans" begins to appear more clearly. Mar- 
quette of Cass county and Daily of Nemaha 
county are the leaders of a little group who 
are stigmatized in various picturesque frontier 
phrases as "the nigger party." At this session 
a liquor license law is passed, repealing the 
prohibitory law of 1855. Mr. Daily is a lead- 
ing advocate of the bill and it is reported as 
part of the republican program to get the Ger- 
man vote. On December 5, 1858, Governor 
Richardson resigns his office and hastens to 
Illinois where his friend Douglas is making 
the fight of his life against Abraham Lincoln 
for the United States senatorship. The Bu- 
chanan adihinistration was opposed to Douglas 
and Richardson was not willing to hold a 
Buchanan appointment. The debt to the terri- 
tory was over $15,000. Territorial warrants 
were receivable for taxes, but sold for forty- 
five cents on the dollar. It was the era of 
"special legislation." When anything was to 
be done it required an act of the legislature — 
to make a road, building a mill dam — even di- 
vorces were granted by the legislature. 

The uppermost topic in the Nebraska mind 
during the summer of 1858 was "land sales." 
For four years the settlers had been "squat- 
ters." Surveying had been going on and the 
land was now staked and platted as far west 
as the sixth principal meridian, — which forms 
now the western boundary of Jefferson, Saline, 
Seward and Butler counties. On January 26, 
1857, the United States land officials at Omaha 
gave notice that pre-emptors might now come 
forward, make their proof of settlement, pay 
$1.25 per acre and secure title to their claims. 



.\ great many settlers found it more conven- 
ient to hold their claims as squatters than to 
raise the money to pay the government. In 
May, 1858, notice was sent from Washington 
that all lands not entered by September 6 
would be offered for sale. This meant, — un- 
der the land policy of those days, — that the 
squatters would be obliged to raise the money 
to enter their claims before that date or 
lose their land, with all its improve- 
ments, to any speculator who had the 
money to buy it. There was great excitement 
in the frontier log cabins. The panic of the 
previous year had left the people moneyless. 
To be compelled to purchase their lands now 
would force them to lose their claims to the 
"land sharks" or mortgage their property at 
an enormous rate of interest. Mass meetings 
were held in nearly every community to pro- 
test against the ruin which was impending. 
The pioneer republican agitators, like S. G. 
Dailey, did not lose the opportunity of remind- 
ing the people that if the republican free home- 
stead bill had been enacted they need not fear 
the loss of their little homes after enduring the 
hardships and dangers of the frontier. Delega- 
tions of leading citizens, — in which active dem- 
ocratic politicians were prominent, — went to 
Washington to urge upon the president a re- 
vocation of the order. The result of their mis- 
sion was announced in the Brownville Ad- 
vertiser of September 2, 1858, (Robert ^^^ Fur- 
nos, editor) under the startling headline, 
"Nebraska Saved," accompanied by a cut of 
President Buchanan with the stars and stripes 
floating over his head. The government had 
ordered the land sales in Nebraska postponed 
one 3'ear. 

The year 1859 was full of excitement in 



NEBRASKA TERRITORY 



87 



Nebraska. The feud between llie North and 
South Platte section which liad raged for sev- 
eral years now reached the white heat of se- 
cession. The South Platte people outnum- 
bered the North Platte, but had been outgen- 
eraled in every contest. They now resolved 
to separate from the northern barbarians and 
unite with Kansas, which was asking admis- 
sion as a state. New Years Day, 1859, a mass 
meeting was held at Nebraska City which de- 
clared for Kansas. On January 5th a delegate 



the counties south of the 1 Matte to choose dele- 
gates to represent thcni in the coming Kansas 
constitutional convention to be held at Wyan- 
dotte. Members were elected in every coim- 
ty, those from Nemaha county being R. W. 
Furnas, S. A. Chambers, \\'. \V. Keeling and 
C. E. L. Holmes. In Otoe county 900 voters 
out of ],100 signed a petition to be joined to 
Kansas. On July 5 the Kansas convention 
met. The delegates from Nebraska were ad- 
mitted to seats, but not to vote. A strong 




First Temporary Bridge and First Train Crossing the 
Missouri at Omaha 1866 



convention from South Platte counties was 
held at Brownville at which Richardson, Nem- 
aha, Otoe, Clay, Gage and Johnson counties 
were represented. A memorial to congress 
was adopted asking that the boundaries of 
Kansas be changed so as to include the South 
Platte. A committee composed of E. S. Dun- 
dy, of Richardson, R. W. Furnas, of Nemaha, 
and J. B. Weston, of Gage, was appointed to 
prepare an address to the people. The move- 
ment grew. On May 3 another convention, 
held at Nebraska City, called an election in all 



party among the Kansas delegates favored an- 
nexation of the South Platte region, but there 
were jealousies and rivalries to overcome. 
When the test vote was taken on the question, 
by a vote of 29 to 19, the convention refused 
to ask the extension of their state to the 
Platte. The South Platte delegates came home 
and started an agitation for statehood which 
resulted in the submission of that proposition 
the next year. 

The territorial election of 1859 was the first 
squarely joined contest between the demo- 



88 



SEMI-CEXTEXXIAL HISTORY OF xVEBRASKA 



cratic and republican parties in Nebraska. The 
democrats met in convention at Plattsmouth 
August 18 and nominated their ticket. A long 
platform was adopted which may be con- 
densed into these points : The right of territor- 
ies to exclude slavery by "unfriendly legisla- 
tion." non-intervention by congress in domes- 
tic territorial affairs, the right of Nebraska to 
enter the union, "and we believe the time is 
now arrived," opposition to a revival of the 
African slave trade, protection to all citizens 



in Nebraska, for free homesteads, for the Paci- 
fic railroad up the Platte valley, for congres- 
sional appropriations to bridge the Platte, 
Loup, Nemaha and Niobrara, for "speedy or- 
ganization as a state," fixed the responsibility 
for the existence of the African slave trade on 
President Buchanan's administration and con- 
cluded with the following indictment of the 
democratic partj' : "We will judge the demo- 
cratic party by its acts rather than its pro- 
fessions : professing opposition to a system of 




Present Railroad Bridge Across Missouri River 



both native and naturalized, strict economy, 
but a liberal school fund, a national railroad to 
the Pacific and liberal land grants for railroads 
and internal improvements, appropriations by 
congress to bridge the Platte, free ItJO-acre 
homesteads, and last "we are irreconcilably op- 
posed to incorporation of banks or of banking 
institutions." 

The republican territorial convention met 
at Bellevue August 24. Its platform de- 
clared for free soil and free labor, for the right 
of the territorial legislature to prohibit slavery 



credit it has burdened the treasury with an en- 
ormous debt; professing opposition to banks 
the national democracy has flooded the nation 
with treasury notes and the Nebraska democ- 
racy has burdened our people with worthless 
banks ; professing to favor a national railroad 
to the Pacific it has expended millions to estab- 
lish an impracticable southern route and has 
not even surveyed the central route in Nebras- 
ka : professing to favor emigration to the terri- 
tory it has defeated in congress the homestead 
Ijill, comi)elled the settlers to pay for their land 



NF.r.RASKA TERRITORY 



80 



at a lime of great comiiiereial depression an<l 
thrown o])en vast tracts to the grasp of specu- 
lators." 

At the election whicli followed October 11th 
the principal contest was over delegate to 
congress. There was great contrast l^etween 
the candidates. Estabrook was a scholarly pol- 
ished lawyer. Daily, to whom more than to 
anyone else belongs the distinction of being the 
founder of the republican party in Nebraska, 
was a typical agitator, — restless, untiring, 
strategic. He was unlettered and the opposi- 
tion were never weary of ridiculing his gram- 
mar. They nicknamed him "Skisms" Daily, 
because of his pronunciation of "schism," but 
he had the knack of getting next to the people 
which served him well in the stormy cam- 
paigns of the early days. The official returns 
elected the entire democratic ticket, including 
a majority of the legislature. The vote for 
E.stabrook was ;3,ino, for Daily '2,800 and the 
returning board gave Estabrook the certificate 
of election. Daily contested the seat on the 
ground that the vote of several counties was 
fraudulent, and cited in particular Buffalo 
county where 292 votes were returned for his 
oponent and none for him, most of this vote 
coming from Fort Kearne}-. The house had a 
repulilican majority and ga\e Daily the seat. 

Some events outside of political controver- 
sies claim our attention before passing into the 
new decade. The first territorial fair was held 
on September 21 at Neljraska City. The orator 
for the occasion was J . Sterling Morton and 
his address at that time will remain a classic 
in Nebraska liistor\-, descriptive of society in 
the early territorial days. The fair was a won- 
derful cxhiliit of Nebraska's fertility. 

The pioneer religious denominations in Ne- 



braska, as already noted, were the Baptist and 
Presbyterian, — represented by missionaries to 
the Indians. I'^atlier I'. J. DeSmet, the fam- 
ous Catholic missionary, was contemporary 
with them, taking charge af the mission to the 
I'ottawotamie Indians at Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
in IS.'jS and from that lime on frequently en- 
gaged in mission work in Nebraska. The 
Methodist church came next, the first regular 
church work beginning at Nebraska City in Oc- 
toljer, 18.")^, in cliarge of Rev.W'.D. Gage, Con- 
gregationalism in Nebraska dates from Christ- 
mas Day, IS.-)."), when Rev. Reuben Gaylord 
and wife crossed the Missouri at Omaha and 
organized the First Congregational church 
there during the year which followed. 

On December li, 1859, the first Nebraska 
press association was organized at the Hern- 
don Hotel, Omaha, with six newspapers rep- 
resented. The Nebraska Board of .Agricul- 
ture dates from October 14, 1858, wdien a bill 
for its incorporation, introduced by Robert W. 
Furnas, became law. The first woman suf- 
frage movement began earlier. On the 8th 
of January, 185(i, Mrs. Amelia Bloomer, 
then living at Council Bluff's, Iowa, and aulh- 
or of the "bloomer'' costume, appeared by in- 
vitation before the Nebraska legislature and 
made an address in favor of suffrage for her 
sex. 

The year 1859 was the year of "Old John 
Brown's" raid on Harper's Ferry ending in his 
trial and execution. Brown was a familiar fig- 
ure in southeast Nebraska for several years, 
crossing from Iowa into Kansas by way of the 
Nemaha valley. An "underground railroad" 
route for the escape of slaves ran across the 
same tract to Tabor, Iowa. 



90 



se:mi-centennial history of Nebraska 



The "Pawnee Indian war" of 1859 began on 
the 21st of June when seven or eight hundred 
Pawnees stole a hundred head of cattle on the 
Elkhorn near Fontanelle. The next day near 
West Point they took an ox. The settlers sur- 
rounded a party of them in a house and ordered 
them to surrender. The Indians fired wound- 
ing J. H. Peters in the shoulder. The settlers 
repHed with a volley killing four Pawnees. A 
courier with this intelligence arrived in Omaha 
July 1st. General Thayer set out at once for 
the seat of war with the Omaha light artillery. 
Companies of militia from Fremont, Fontan- 
elle and Columbus and a detachment of United 
States dragoons joined the command as it 
moved up the Elkhorn in pursuit of the Paw- 
nees. Governor Black overtook the army on 
the 8th. It numbered then two hundred men 
with one six-pounder cannon. The trail led 
past Norfolk up the valley. The expedition 
made a forced march the night of July 12th and 
at daybreak the next morning came upon the 
Pawnee camp stretched along the banks of a 
small stream about ten miles above the forks 
of the Elkhorn. The order to charge was 
given when Chief Peta-le-sharu with a United 
States flag wrapped around him made a rush 
for General Thayer shouting "Good Indian." 
The command halted. The Pawnees turned 
over six of their young men as the guilty men, 
signed an agreement that pay for the property 
destroyed should be taken out of their annui- 
ties and the army marched across country to 
Columbus where the militia was mustered out. 
The little stream was named "Battle Creek" — 
presumably because there was no battle there. 
Today the prosperous town of Battle Creek, 
Madison county, is located a few hundred yards 
east of where the Pawnee camp was in 1859. 



The sixth session of the Nebraska territorial 
legislature met at Omaha, December 5, 1859. 
Its organization was marked by a struggle be- 
tween the Douglas and Buchanan democrats 
in which the Douglas faction won. Governor 
Samuel W. Black (who had been promoted 
from the position of territorial judge by Presi- 
dent Buchanan) delivered a message full of 
interest. First of all he demolished the scien- 
tific reports which had declared Nebraska unlit 
for cultivation by referring to the visible proofs 
to the contrary He then declared that with 
the advent of man upon the plains there had 
been a great increase of rainfall which he 
ascribed to Divine preparation for civilization. 
He voiced, no doubt, the popular sentiment 
when he declared that there were "hundreds of 
thousands of acres of the best land in Nebraska 
held by individuals who have never broken a 
single foot of sod with spade or plow," and 
urged that taxes should be chiefly levied upon 
real estate, and that a certain number of live 
stock belonging to each person should be 
wholl}^ exempt from taxes. He recommended 
an indirect bounty for tree planting by ex- 
emption from taxes of the land where they 
were planted, and also a homestead exemption 
law securing a man's home from creditors. As 
a remedy for the extravagant rates of interest 
on money in the territory he urged the pas- 
sage of "stringent usury laws" — a piece of 
economic folly which has been perpetuated 
upon our statute book unto this day. The ter- 
ritory was in debt $31,068. A long argument 
is given for the admission of Nebraska as a 
state. An area of 8,851,758 acres had been 
surveyed by the United States surveyors — 
about one-sixth of the present state. The 
school advantages of the time may be judged 



NEBRASKA TERRITORY 



91 



from the fact that out of a total of 4,;67 chil- 
dren of school age reported only 1,310 attended 
any school in the year and seven counties with 
considerable population reported no schools in 
the county. 

Slavery was the exciting theme before the 
legislature as it was in the nation. A bill pro- 
hibiting slavery in the territory passed the 
council by a vote of 7 to 3 and the house by 
19 to 17, after a spirited debate. Governor 
Black vetoed it, assigning as his reason the 
clause in the Louisiana Purchase treaty which 
guarantees to the inhabitants of Louisiana the 
free enjo}-ment of their liberty and property 
during the period prior to their admission as 
states. An act exempting a homestead of 160 
acres, or in lieu thereof, a dwelling and two 
town lots from execution for debt was passed — 
the first in the history of the territory ; also an 
act giving one year's stay in forced sales of 
mortgaged premises. In these acts is seen 
clearly the aftermath of the panic of 1857. 
Congress was memorialized to grant 20,000 
acres of land to J. P. Latta, of Cass county, as 
a bonus for establishment of a line of steam- 
boats on the Platte. 

The LTnited States census of 1860 — the first 
in which Nebraska found a place — returned 
28,841 people and real and personal property 
of the value of $9,131,056 in the territory. Im- 
migration had been checked by the hard times, 
there had been a rush from the Missouri river 
settlements to the gold diggings about Pike's 
Peak, which was then part of Nebraska, but 
on the whole there was a steady, solid growth 
of actual settlers. 

The political campaign of 1860 in Nebraska 
was characterized by the same consuming in- 
terest that it was elsewhere in the Union. The 



real leaders of the respective parties, — S. G. 
Daily and J. Sterling Morton, — were opposing 
candidates for delegate to congress. The plat- 
forms were not much different in spirit from 
those of 1859,^ — both parties were in favor of a 
free homestead law and Pacific railroad, — the 
republicans, however, pointed to the veto of 
the free homestead law by President Buchanan 
and the veto of the act prohibiting slavery by 
Governor Black, while the democrats could 
only promise to make Nebraska free state 
when admitted. The democratic party went 
into the campaign with a serious handicap. In 
order to hold itself together it tried to be for 
Buchanan and for Douglas in the same breath. 
Then Morton was a Buchanan appointee and 
continued to hold his position as secretary of 
the territory while he made his canvass. At 
the opening of the campaign R. W. Furnas, of 
the Brownville Advertiser, changed from the 
democratic to the republican party and fought 
Morton with a cordial vehemence which is as- 
tonishing to those who knew them in later life 
as intimate friends. Joint debates were held 
by the two candidates over the territory. Mor- 
ton was much better educated than Daily and 
was master of a more biting wit. Daily spoke 
the dialect of the common people and knew 
how to drive home a telling point so that the 
dullest grasped its full meaning. Perhaps the 
most telling of these points was the veto of the 
free homestead bill by a democratic president 
after its passage by a republican congress, — 
with its attendant results in Nebraska. The 
failure of the free homestead bill had forced liie 
settlers to borrow money in order to buy their 
claims from the government and save their 
homes. Figures were given showing that in 
the three counties of Richardson, Pawnee and 



92 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Nemaha, alone, the results of the land sales the dollar. Out of $19,G15 territorial taxes 

had been to place a debt of $85,199.11, secured assessed against the counties for 18.59 only 

bv trust deeds, on settlers' claims. The rate $4,813 had been paid. The new legislature was 

of interest paid on this debt is given as an strongly republican and promptly passed and 

average of fiftv per cent per annum — which sent to the governor a new bill prohibiting 

was certainly stiff interest on real estate loans, slavery in the territorj'. January 1, 18G1, Gov- 

The democratic replv was that Douglas had ernor Black sent in his veto message, holding 

supported the free homestead bill, while seven that under the Dred Scott decision and the 

republicans had voted against it : that the re- Louisiana treaty the territorial legislature had 

publican oartv was a sectional party and a no power to pass the act. Besides this he as- 

"nigger" partv, — and that Abraham Lincoln serted that it was bad policy, tending to shut 

had made a speech in congress against the ofif trade with slave states. On this pomt the 

Mexican war, which speech translated into message written in ISGl reads like a prophecy 

Spanish had been circulated in Mexico, thus today. He wrote: 

giving aid and comfort to the enemy whom "Look at the map and you wiTl see that the 

our brave soldiers were fighting in the field. future of Nebraska is linked with Texas. Our 

Both sides claimed the election as the re- road to market is through that great and grow- 
turns came in. It was soon clear that the re- 
publicans had secured the legislature. Daily 
had about 100 majority with all the counties 
in except L' eau qui Court which included the 
settlements at the mouth of the Niobrara river. 
The return from this county was long delayed, 
but finally arrived with Iv'T majority for l\Ior- 
ton, electing him by fourteen votes. The re- 
turning board composed of Governor Black cil. In the discussion it appeared that Alex- 
and the other democratic territorial officials ander Majors and S. F. Nuckolls, of Nebraska 
gave Morton his certificate of election, while Citv, and a few others had slaves. Two of 
Daily promptly gave notice of contest on the Xuckolls' slaves ran away by the Tabor route 
ground of fraudulent vote in L'eau qui Court, to freedom. One of the fugitives, Eliza, was 
— far exceeding the total number of settlers in arrested by the L^nited States marshall in Chi- 
that county. cago under the fugitive slave act and the Ne- 

The first electric telegraph reached Nebraska braska City News of November 17, ISiiO, states 

soil August 39, crossing the river at Brown- that a "mob of black republicans" in that city 



ing state. From Galveston Bay to the mouth 
of the Platte is less than eight hundred miles. 
A railroad is alread)^ surveyed and partially 
completed toward the northern line of Texas. 
By that road our rich harvests are eventually 
to reach their best market." 

The bill was passed over the veto by a vote 
of 35 to 2 in the house and 10 to 3 in the coun- 



ville. Messages were exchanged with the rest 
of the world and a celebration held at night. 
^^'hen the legislature met again on December 
4th it found the territorial debt grown to 
$3"2,00O and warrants selling at fifty cents on 



took her from the marshal's hands. Six of 
^lajors' slaves ran away about this time and 
thus closes the chapter of negro slavery in 
Nebraska. 

l-"reighting across the plains had been a 



NEBRASKA THRRITORV 93 

growins; Nebraska industry for a nuinher of l:a(l thrown it out, giving" Daily a niajoritN- and 
years. With the de\'elopnient of the Ldlorado the certificate. 'I"he details of the contest 
mines it now leaped to giant proportions. which followed cannot be given here. Leading 
Omaha, Bellevue, Plattsmouth, Nebraska City, democratic members, like V'oorhees, of Indi- 
and Brownville each claimed the "shortest and ana, made a figlit for Morton, but a republican 
best route." But when Nebraska City laid out congress called to find means for putting down 
the Kearney Cut-ofi:' in ISdl, passing b}' the a giant rebellion had little time to seat demo- 
head of Salt creek to the forks of the Big Blue crats. Morton was granted the privilege of 
and W'^est Blue in Seward county, thence over presenting his own case on the floor and made 
easy grades across what is now York, Ham- his first and last speech in congress, a fiery 
ikon and Hall counties to Fort Kearne}', it was phillippic denouncing the men who had be- 
not long before the bulk of the business was trayed his confidence. He showed by docu- 
going by that route and Nebraska City of those ments that (iovernor Black owed him several 
days was larger than Omaha. Inmdred dollars, money loaned, at the very 

Abraham Lincoln became president ^March time he secretly issued the certificate to Daily, 

4, 1861, and on May 11th the new republican and discussed other features of the case with 

officials, — Alvin Saunders, governor and A. S. pungent oratory, but the house laid the matter 

Paddock, secretary of state, assumed their on the table and Daily kept his seat. Black, 

duties. On May ISth Gov. Saunders called meanwhile, had gone into the army as colonel 

for volunteers. On July ,'?Oth the First Ne- of the G'^ind Pennsylvania and was killed at the 

braska under Col. John M. Th-iycr left Omaha liead of his regiment at tlie battle of Gaines 

by steamboat for the front, taking part in the -^li", June 27, 1SG2, fighting for the freedom of 

battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Cape t'le slaves of the entire south, when he had re- 

Giradeau and a multitude of lesser engage- fused to free a handful in Nebraska with a 

ments. stroke of his pen. 

In July of 1861 congress met in extra ses- While the Nebraska b'irst Regiment was 
sion to provide means for carrying on the war. marching on under southern skies to battle anil 
When Mr. Morton arrived in Washington to victory, the prol)lems of government and de- 
take his .seat as delegate from Nebraska he velopment were being met at home. The 
was astonished txD find that another certificate eighth territorial legislature met December 2, 
of election had been issued by Governor Black ISGl. Governor Saunders reported that the 
to Mr. Daily and that Col. Forney, chief clerk telegraph line to the Pacific was already staked 
of the house, had placed Daily's name on the out along the Platte \allev and the Pacific 
roll as member from this territory. It was railroad must soon follow. Free schools was 
even so. Daily's certificate was dated April one of the things urged upon the attention of 
29, 1861, and was accompanied by a statement the legislature. I'nder decision of the new sec- 
from Governor Black that on reconsideration retary of the interior the school lands in tlie 
of the vote from L'eau cpii Court county lie territory were made subject to lease for the 
felt compelled to regard it as fraudulent, and benefit of the fund. 11ie territory owed $1G,- 



94 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



000 in bonds and $34,000 in warrants and its 
credit was 50% to 60% below par. So poor 
was the revenue system and so urgent the 
need of securing funds for local expenses that 
some counties had resorted to the practice of 
issuing county warrants for three or four times 
the debt to be discharged in order to cover the 
depreciation of their paper, — a practice which 
the Governor said could not be "too strongly 
reprehended." The legislature promptly 
passed a resolution approving the war and 
pledging its support to the national govern- 
ment and memorialized congress to confiscate 
the property of the state of Georgia and Ala- 
bama and of sundry individuals in those states, 
— in the territory of Nebraska, — amounting 
to upwards of two hundred thousand acres of 
choice land, — and to devote the money arising 
from the sale of such confiscated rebel property 
to the payment of Nebraska's share of the 
Federal direct tax and to internal improve- 
ments within the territory. The writer has 
found no record showing that congress acted 
on this petition. 

Early in 1862 bands of "jayhawkers" raided 
into Richardson and Nemaha counties, steal- 
ing and destroying property. Governor Saun- 
ders issued a proclamation against them on 
January 2. The people of Nemaha county cap- 
tured several of them, killed two and thrust 
their bodies under the ice in the :Missouri river. 
Anti-jayhawker associations were a common 
social feature in this part of Nebraska during 
the rest of the war. In August, 1862, occurred 
the great Sioux outbreak in Minnesota. Im- 
mediate action was taken by Nebraska to pro- 
tect her northern border, and the Second Ne- 
braska Cavalry was organized during the fall, 
with Robert W. Furnas as colonel. In April, 



1863, the regiment was ordered to Sioux City, 
and joined the army under General Sully to 
march against the Dakota Indians. It was a 
hard summer's campaign across the uninhab- 
ited plains, skirmishing with the elusive ene- 
my. On the 3rd of September, General Sully's 
army surprised the Sioux camp two hundred 
miles above Pierre and the battle of White 
Stone Hills ensued. The Indians were com- 
pletely whipped, losing one hundred and fifty 
killed, three hundred wounded, and nearly all 
their ponies and tepees. The Second Nebraska 
lost seven killed and fourteen wounded. The 
regiment returned home and was mustered out 
at Omaha, November 30, 1863. 

Delegate Daily's home was at Peru, Nema- 
ha county, but in the legislation for the incor- 
poration of the Union Pacific railroad com- 
pany by congress he had drawn a bill provid- 
ing that the eastern terminus of the road 
should be near the mouth of the Platte river 
and naming two leading citizens of Omaha as 
incorporators while the South Platte country 
had none. These and other circumstances con- 
vinced the South Platte citizens that Daily 
had, in their phrase, "sold out to Omaha," and 
they started after his scalp. A bitter fight 
followed in the republican territorial conven- 
tion. Daily again secured the nomination. A 
number of prominent republicans south of the 
Platte, including Judge O. P. Mason, bolted 
Daily's nomination. The democrats named 
Judge Kinney, of Nebraska City, and confi- 
dently looked forward to an overwhelming vic- 
tor}-. Daily was once more too shrewd for the 
opposition. Although he ran behind in his 
own country south of the Platte the North 
Platte people more than made good the loss 
and elected him by 136 majority. 



NEBRASKA TERRITORY 



95 



Nebraska's share of the direct war tax was 
$19,312. This was a large sum for a territory, 
already $50,000 in debt and running further 
behind. The proposition was made to con- 
gress that it should retain at Washington the 
$20,000 which had been appropriated by the 
federal government every year to pay the ex- 
penses of the Nebraska legislature and the 
territory would get along without a legisla- 
ture for another year. This proposition was 
accepted. 

The ninth session of the Nebraska terri- 
torial legislature, therefore, did not meet tmtil 
January 7, 1864. Before that time arrived 
many important events had taken place. The 
free homestead law, — so long fought for, so 
often defeated, — was upon the statute book 
and on January 1, 1863, the first homestead in 
the United States under that act was taken by 
Daniel Freeman on Cub Creek, in Gage county. 
The summer of 1863 was marked the whole 
length of Nebraska's frontier by the blood of 
men, women and children killed by the In- 
dians. The Sioux, Cheyennes, Arapahoes and 
Kiowas were all on the warpath. In the valley 
of the Little Blue their attacks were especially 
severe. Ranches were burned, freightirtg out- 
fits destroyed, and only large companies well 
armed could travel the overland trail. Gov- 
ernor Saunders' message recounted some of 
these events. The territorial debt had grown 
to $59,893. There were delinquent taxes 
amounting to $41,829, but territorial warrants 
had gone up and were now worth eighty to 
ninety cents on the dollar. The legislature 
passed the first comprehensive revenue law in 
our history providing a complete system for 
the assessments and collection of taxes. It 
passed a marriage and divorce law, an act 



making ten hours a legal day's work, a general 
incorporation law, — doing away with the need 
of a special act for every new corporation, — a 
new legislative apportionment bill, which gave 
the South Platte seven members out of thir- 
teen in the council and twenty-three out of 
thirty-nine members in the house. 

When the political campaign of 18G-1 rolled 
around it found a transformation in Nebraska. 
The republican territorial committee met on 
February 12 and voted to disband the republi- 
can party in order to go into the "Union" 
party, — whose single test of membership was 
the support of President Lincoln. This was a 
shrewd move to hold the war democrats who 
believed in the preservation of the Union but 
hated the name republican, — coupled as it gen- 
erally had been with the adjective "black." 
Accordingly a "Union" territorial convention 
was held August 17 at Nebraska City, wherein 
P. W. Hitchcock was named as candidate for 
territorial delegate in congress. The demo- 
cratic convention met September 14, at Platts- 
mouth, nominated Dr. George L. Miller for 
congress and adopted a platform which op- 
posed statehood and declared for peace. The 
election resulted in Hitchcock's election by a 
majority of 1,087, — the largest anti-democratic 
vote thus far cast in the territory. The war 
sentiment and inability of the democrats to 
successfully meet the charge that they were 
rebel sympathizers, — a charge made on every 
stump by the "Union" orators, — was the main 
cause of their defeat. 

The legislature which met January 5, 1865, 
was the first one greeted by a reduction in the 
territorial debt and improNcmcnt in the gen- 
eral financial condition. A general herd law 
was recommended by Governor Saunders. He 



96 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



also recommended that the people of Ne- l;)raska was wliolly democratic. Alany demo- 
braska should assist in providing labor and crats had joined the republican party in oppo- 
honest opportunities for the freed negroes of sition to slavery and to put down secession, 
the south, — a suggestion which raised a storm Conservative men of this class now began to 
of clamorous remonstrance from some of the balk at the radical program of republican lead- 
democratic newspapers. The republican terri- ers in congress and supported President John- 
torial convention, held September 19. 18GG, son. As a rule, the federal office holders and 
quietly dropped the name "Union" and re- those who hoped to be federal otifice holders, 
sumed its old title. The democratic con\-en- during Johnson's administration, were on his 
tion met two days later and adopted a plat- side of the cotnroversy. So there was a di- 
form written by J. Sterling Morton whose vision in the republican party of Nebraska 




First Methodist Church Built in Nebraslta at 
Nebraska City in 1855 



most conspicuous plank was one declaring that 
"negroes were not entitled to vote or hold 
office in Nebraska." 

The quarrel between President Johnson and 
the republican congress at Washington had 
now reached an acute stage and one that acted 
powerfully on the political situation in Xe- 
Ijraska. The democratic party had the repub- 
licans in the same box which the democrats 
had occupied in ISiiO. The democrats were 
united while the republicans were badly di- 
vided. It is already remarked that for the first 
four years of her organized existence Ne- 



growing wider each day. The democrats re- 
joiced in a new hope. Their newspapers and 
orators burned with praises of the President. 
The Johnson republicans, meanwhile, found 
that they could not control their own party 
organization in Nel)raska. This condition of 
affairs brought about the first case of "fusion 
jjolitics" in our histor}-. The democratic ter- 
ritorial convention and Johnson republican ter- 
ritorial convention met on the same day in the 
same building and arranged for a division of 
the offices. The democrats got three candi- 
dates: ]\Iorton for delegate to congress, Mur- 



NEBRASKA TERRITORY 



97 



phy for territorial auditor, and Dellone for 
treasurer. The Johnson republicans were 
given A. S. Paddock for representative in con- 
gress and J. C. Jordan for territorial librarian. 
George Francis Train, who was very active in 
democratic politics in Nebraska at this time, 
was disappointed at this result and nominated 
himself as independent democratic candidate 
for congress. After a great deal of difficulty 
he was induced to withdraw. The republicans 
nominated John Taffe for delegate to con- 
gress and T. M. Marquett for representative. 
The republican papers of the day uniformly 



st3le the fusion opposition as the "copperhead 
party." The reply was to call the republicans 
the party of "taxation and niggerization," as 
J. Sterling Morton named them in the Ne- 
braska City News. A vigorous campaign was 
made by both sides, Paddock and Morton 
especially, stumping all parts of the territory, 
but election day demonstrated the mass of the 
republicans refused to follow President John- 
son. The majority for the republican ticket 
was near 800. The fourteenth amendment en- 
tire was in the platform, and thus had the en- 
dorsement of a majority of the voters. 




Nebraska Wildcat Paper Currency 



THE STRUGGLE TO MAKE A STATE 



CHAPTER IX 




Old State Capitol Building, Omaha 

Almost as soon as the territory of Ne- 
braska was born eager minds within her bor- 
ders were looking forward to the time when 
she should stand an equal in the sisterhood of 
states. In 1858 the movement for immediate 
statehood began. The Omaha Times of !May 
13, 1858, asks for an expression of opinion on 
the question. On June 24 of the same year in 
an editorial, "The State of Nebraska." its edi- 
tor. ^^'. W. Wyman. discussed the objections to 
state organization and advocated the election 
of a legislature pledged to submit the proposi- 
tion to the people. The next year both demo- 
cratic and republican parties in their territorial 
conventions declared for immediate statehood. 
Governor Black in his message to the legisla- 
ture which met December 9, 1859, advocated 
state organization, saying that Nebraska had 
about 50,000 population — which statement a 
census at that time would not have verified. 



On January 11, 1860, the legislature passed the 
act submitting to the voters at a special elec- 
tion, ]\Iarch 5, the question of calling a conven- 
tion to frame a state constitution. The news- 
papers of both sides seemed afraid to discuss 
the subject; the politicians were the same. It 
was on the eve of the momentous election of 
ISCO and there were signs of the breaking of 
old party ties everywhere, ^\"hen the votes 
were counted there were 2,094 for a convention 
and 2,732 against. The South Platte region 
gave a good majority in favor, but in Douglas 
and Sarpy there were overwhelming majorities 
against. The possible removal of the capitol 
was undoubtedly a factor in the result. 

The civil war came on and the great tide 
of migration westward was arrested. The en- 
ergies of the west as well as the east were con- 
centrated upon military instead of political af- 




Scene Near Weeping Water, Nebraska. 



THE STRUGGLE TO MARE A STATE. 



99 



fairs. It was not until April 19, 18G4, that 
congress took the matter in hand and passed an 
enabling act to permit Nebraska to form a 
state constitution. As has frequently hap- 
pened in politics there was a change of party 
attitude. The democratic party which had 
been the pioneer in demanding statehood in 
1858 now opposed the movement as premature 
and calculated to impose burdens on the fron- 
tier population which it was not prepared to 
undertake. The republican party, which had 
taken on, temporarily, the convenient name of 
"Union'' in order more easily to secure the 
support of the war democrats, resolved 
strongly in favor of immediate statehood. 

The enabling act, April 19, 18(54, authorized 
the governor of Nebraska to call a special elec- ■ 
tion on June Gth at which the people should 
vote on the proposition of immediate state- 
hood and at the same time elect delegates to a 
constitutional convention. Two arguments 
were immediately and powerfully urged 
against the proposed change, — one that it 
meant more expense and taxes ; the other that 
■"if we have a state, we'll have a draft," — riots 
and opposition were marking the progress of 
the draft in some parts of the union. The re- 
sult was the defeat of the proposition. The 
delegates elected, however, met in Omaha on 
July 4, 1864, and adjourned sine die by a vote 
of 35 to 7. 

It was not until 186fi that the legisla- 
ture again submitted to a popular vote the 
question of statehood. The two opposing po- 
litical parties lined up against each other and 
the hottest political battle thus far witnessed 
in the new territory followed. The republicans 
nominated David Butler for governor and de- 
clared in favor of statehood. The democrats 




Gov. Crounse's First Residence and Law Office at Ruio 
1864. Plioto Taken in 1901 

named J. Sterling Morton for governor and 
resolved against statehood. The chief reasons 
offered for and against the organization of a 
state were those of economy, — the democrats 
maintaining that it was better to maintain a 
territorial government which was largely sup- 
ported by appropriations from congress, until 
the population became greater, — the republi- 
cans contending that a state government would 
be no more expense than a territorial one to 
the people, wheii the advantages of income 
from congressional land grants was taken into 
account, and that it was better for the people 
to govern themselves anyway than to be ruled 
from Washington. The real difference was, 
however, one of politics. The republicans 
wanted another state in the Union to help 
carry out their reconstruction program and 
overcome the opposition of President Andrew 



100 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Johnson, while the democrats wanted to gain 
time and take advantage of the split in the re- 
publican party. The campaign was fierce and 
every settlement in the territory was thor- 
oughly canvassed. The election took place 
June 2, 1866 and the result was a vote of 3,938 
in favor of the constitution and 3,838 opposed. 
The republican state ticket was elected by a 
majority of -about 100 with exception of one 
candidate for judge who was beaten by his 
democratic opponent. 

There was another and fiercer fight when 
the legislature met. The republican county 
clerk of Cass county had thrown out Rock 
Bluflf precinct, which gave a democratic ma- 
jority of fifty-eight, in canvassing the vote. 
There was no charge of fraudulent voting in 
the precinct, but it appeared that the election 



board had adjourned to eat dinner, locking the 
ballot box and taking it with them. It did not 
even appear that anyone was deprived of op- 
portunity to vote, but the technical violation 
of the law was made the ground for rejecting 
the precinct's vote. It happened that with 
Rock BlufT precinct the democratic candidates 
for the legislature were elected in Cass county; 
without it the republican candidates were 
elected. It happened farther that with demo- 
cratic members from Cass the democrats had 
a majority in the legislature, and conversely 
with republican members from Cass the re- 
publicans had a majority. So the whole ques- 
tion whether two democrats or two republi- 
cans should represent Nebraska in the senate 
at Washington was, in final analysis, whether 
having the Rock Bluff ballot box at the dinner 




City of Omaha in 1861. Copyrighted by A. Hospe, Omaha 



THE STRUGGLE TO MAKE A STATE 



101 



table vitiated the votes in it. The fight was 
hot and bitter, but the republican members 
from Cass had certificates of election ; their 
votes gave the republicans the organization of 
the legislature ; the legislature elected General 
Thayer and Chaplain Tipton to the United 
States senate instead of J. Sterling Morton and 
A. T. Poppleton, the democratic nominees. The 
report of Representative C. H. Gere, of 
Pawnee county, who was chairman of the 
house committee to which the Cass county 
contest was referred, makes the foregoing facts 
clear and i? one of the rarely interesting docu- 
ments on a turning point in Nebraska history. 
The "election dinner in Rock Bluff precinct," — 
insignificant in itself, — becomes in its result 
one of the most important events in the record 
of our state. 

The battle for statehood was only begun. 
Just as Nebraska territory was a storm center 
in congress so was the state destined to be. 
The newly elected senators hurried to Wash- 
ington. It was near the close of the long ses- 
sion of congress. A bill was passed admitting 
the new state and sent to President Johnson. 
The president put the bill in his pocket where 
it died and Nebraska was left out on the door- 
step. When congress met again the next win- 
ter a new cloud had arisen. The Nebraska 
constitution had restricted suffrage to "white 
males" as did many of the northern states be- 
fore the war. The question of how to protect 
the newly freed slaves was one of the upper- 
most ones before the nation. Here was a new 
state fresh from the soil which had been con- 



secrated to freedom by the contest over the 
Nebraska-Kansas bill proposing to exclude 
free negroes from the polls. The radical re- 
publican members and especially the great 
leader, Charles Sumner, of Massachusetts, 
would not listen to the admission of another 
state which did not grant the same political 
equality which they were trying to secure in 
the older states. Besides this there was 
already in the east a revival of jealous senti- 
ment against the rapidly growing political 
power of the west. A prolonged debate was 
precipitated on the question whether congress 
could impose any conditions on the admission 
of a state. The republican party itself was 
divided. Tlie fate of Nebraska was again in 
doubt when Congressman Shellabarger, of 
Ohio, one of the most eloquent and convincing 
speakers in the house, took up the champion- 
ship of our cause and won the day. The bill 
which passed provided that Nebraska should 
become a state on the fundamental condition 
that its legislature should agree by solemn 
public act that "within the state of Nebraska 
there shall be no denial of the elective fran- 
chise, or of any other right to any other per- 
son, by reason of race or color (excepting In- 
dians not taxed)." President Johnson at once 
vetoed the bill. Congress passed it over {he 
veto. 

The battle ground now shifted from Wash- 
ington back to Omaha. Governor Saunders 
convened the legislature in special session on 
P'ebruary 20, 18G7, to act upon the condition 
which congress had annexed to admission. 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA. 



CHAPTER X 




Falls of Arikaree in Cherry County 

There was no delay by the ruling interests 
in the new state to act upon the situation. 
Governor David Butler issued his proclama- 
tion convening the legislature to meet at Oma- 
ha in extra session May 16, 1867. Some forty 
different subjects were enumerated by him for 
the legislature to consider. In brief they were 
to construct a new system of law and admin- 
istration for the state. Now was the oppor- 
tunity of the South Platte to assume control of 



afl'airs and -visit long delayed vengeance on 
the city of Omaha. With a South Platte gov- 
ernor and a majorit}^ of both houses from the 
same region the task was not hard. A bill to 
re-locate the seat of government was quickly 
passed, — in the senate by a vote of 8 to 5, in 
the house by 25 to 14. Three commissionese, 
— Governor David Butler, Secretary of State 
Thomas P. Kennard, and Auditor John Gilles- 
pie, — were appointed with power to locate the 
capital, the state university and the state peni- 
tentiar3^ somewhere in Lancaster, Seward, or 
the southern half of Butler and Saunilers 
counties. They were empowered to acquire 
title, survey and sell lots in the new capital 
city and with the proceeds erect the necessary 
state buildings. On July 39, 1867, the three 
commissioners unanimously chose the present 
site, whose name by the terms of the act was 
to be Lincoln. It was a bold enterprise to lay 
off a capital city on a naked prairie, miles west 
of any compact settlement and expect to sell 
enough lots to erect expensive and permanent 
public buildings. The commissioners were 
equal to the emergency. Auction sale of lots 
began .September 17 at Lincoln. The first 
day's auction was a failure. The conunis- 
sioners, determined to succeed, "arranged" for 
bids the following day. It may well be doubt- 
ed, however, whether the experiment would 
have proven a success if it had not been for 
the active support of the people of Nebraska 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



103 




Site of Peter A. Saipy Trading Post Near Bellevue 



City. Nebraska City votes in the legislature 
had passed the act and now Nebraska City 
capital came to the front for the purchase of 
Lincoln lots, — after the three commissioners, 
to prevent an impending failure in the sales, 
had risked their own capital by becoming 
bidders. 

Work on the new state house, — costing 
$68,000,— was begun in December, 18G7, and it 
was far enough advanced for occupation the 
December following. The commissioners were 
required by law to deposit the funds received 
with the state treasurer — to be drawn out by 
warrant in payment for building contracts. It 
became noised about that tlie enemies of Lin- 
coln intended to enjoin the treasurer from pay- 
ing out the funds. The commissioners there- 
upon disobeyed the law and kept the funds in 
their own hands. Altogether the state realized 
about $300,000 from its sales of Lincoln real 
estate, of which $76,715 was received the first 
vear. 



Other events in 1867 were the location of a 
state normal school at Peru, a visitation by 
grasshoppers in June which did considerable 
damage, the beginning of a geological survey 
by F. V. Hayden in the employ of the United 
States government, the enactment of a regis- 
tration law requiring all voters to register and 
the enactments of a new common school law 
which made .some radical changes, giving to 
the people in each school district the taxing 
power for the support of their own school. 
The -Sioux and Cheyenne Lidian war which 
had ravaged the plains in 1864 and 1865 broke 
out again. A party of Indians supposed to he 
Cheyennes threw a Union Pacific freight train 
from the track at Plum Creek, killed the en- 
gineer, fireman and five other men, burned the 
train and escaped without punishment. 

The year 1868 was presidential election year. 
The republican part)' declared itself in favor 
of the reconstruction measures and the pend- 
ing Fifteenth amendment, while the demo- 



104 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



crats in their platform asserted that this was 
"a white man's government." Temperance 
agitation was already active in the new state. 
Lodges of Good Templars were being organ- 
ized in many counties. Their agitation had 
alarmed the German voters who had very 
largely been republicans in the struggle 



as the eastern terminus. This was the end of a 
long fight by rival points on the Missouri river. 
r)n March 13, 1866, the first completed sec- 
tion of the road, — from Omaha to North Bend, 
— was opened to traffic. That fall it was com- 
pleted to Grand Island and the next year be- 
yond the western boundary of the state. In 



against slavery. A plank was adopted by the 1876 the Omaha and Republican Valley branch 



republican state convention which opposed all 
prohibitory laws. Before the convention ad- 
journed it was reconsidered and stricken out. 
The democratic state convention held later 
adopted the identical plank thus stricken out. 
This incident indicated the policy of the two 
parties upon the liquor question for the next 
thirty years, — the republican party, with a 
large and aggressive temperance element in 
its ranks which persistently agitated the sub- 
ject, trying to avoid any definite declaration 
or action in order to retain both the liquor 
votes and the temperance votes; while 
the democratic party uniformly opposed 
temperance agitation and anti-liquor laws, 
thereby especially aiming to unite to their 
organization the foreign born citizens. 
The election returns simply clinched the fact 
that Nebraska had become reliably republican, 
the republican candidate for governor— David 
Butler — having 8,514 votes while the demo- 
cratic candidate, J. R. Porter, had 6,349. 

The Union Pacific railroad was completed 
across the continent May 10, 1869,— thus real- 
izing visions of a long line of Nebraska edi- 
tors, orators and commonwealth-builders. The 
road had been incorporated by act of congress 
July 1, 1862. On December 2, 1863, ground 
was broken at Omaha upon receipt of a tele- 
gram from President Lincoln designating the 
"western boundarv of Iowa, opposite Omaha 



was in process of construction, and between 
1870 and 1879 the St. Joseph & Grand Island 
track completed between those two cities, — 
and became a part of the Union Pacific system. 
The Burlington road was opened to Council 
Bluffs January 17, 1870. In 1871 the tr§.ck 
from Plattsmouth to Lincoln was completed 
and September 15, 1872, the main line was 
finished to Kearney. The Midland Pacific, 
from Nebraska City to Lincoln, was built in 
1871. In 1874 it was extended to Seward. 
Hard times came on, the road was sold under 
mortgage, acquired by the Burlington and con- 
structed to Columbus and Central City in 1880. 
The Northwestern line had its beginnings 
in these days. In 1871 the Sioux City & Pa- 
cific was built from Blair to Fremont and in 
1881, under the name of the Fremont, Elkhorn 
& Missouri Valey, extended to Long Pine and 
Creighton. The Omaha & Northwestern, 
from Omaha to DeSoto, was constructed by 
an Omaha comjiany in 1870, sold under mort- 
gage in 1878, and absorbed by the present Chi- 
cago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha. 

From the close of the war and especially 
from the time of her admission as a state a 
deep, strong tide of immigration had set in to 
Nebraska. For near ten years there was an 
unbroken line of white topped ships of the 
prairie crossing the Missouri river to cast 
anchor on some quarter section of Nebraska 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



105 



land. When the census of 1S70 was taken, 
although her territory had been reduced nearly 
one-half since 1860 her population had in- 
creased from 28^41 to 122,933 and her wealth 
from $9,000,000 to more than $69,000,000. The 
location of the state capital at Lincoln had 
greatly stimulated settlement in southern Ne- 
braska and by 1870 the fertile valley lands of 
the Blue river system of streams had largely 
been taken up and later comers were ventur- 
ing out upon the "divides" away from the 



to furnish the window glass and stove, leaving 
the district free from debt. The space protected 
by these root-bound walls and dirt roof was 
the religious, social and political, as well as 
educational, center of the community. The 
lyceum, the preaching service and, later, the 
grange meetings were held here and influences 
set in action which directed the future destiny 
of the state. 

The spirit of speculation was strong in the 
souls of the swarms of new settlers who came 




First Dwelling in Lincoln. Homestead of Judge Lavender, 
15th and O Street, 1867 



rivers. Log houses were the rule for the early 
settlers in the valleys, but the scant fringe of 
trees along the water courses would not fur- 
nish timber for such structures upon the prai- 
rie and for the next decade the typical home 
was a sod house or a dugout ; often a combin- 
ation of dugout and sod house served as a 
home for the family while a similar one a few 
yards away sheltered the stock from the winter 
winds. The district school houses were gen- 
erally of sod, built in a single day by the 
united labor of the district and sometimes ded- 
icated bv a dance which raised enough monev 



and saw, as in prophetic vision, the unmeas- 
ured possibilities of the rich prairie soil ready 
for the breaking plow. This spirit ruled the 
legislatures as well as the cross-roads conver- 
sation of the next few years. Everywhere the 
public mind was feasted upon prospects of 
new railroads, county seat towns, manufac- 
turing schemes. The legislature of 1869, in 
sympathy with this sentiment passed an act 
permitting towns, precincts and counties to 
vote bonds to the amount of ten per cent of 
their assessed valuation in aid of railroad and 
other projects. Five hundred thousand acres 



lOB 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



of land had been given to the state by the fed- 
eral government for internal improvements. 
An act was passed offering to any railroad that 
should build track in Nebraska, during the 
next five years, 20,000 acres of land for each 
ten miles of road built and equipped, not more 
than 100,000 acres to be acquired by any one 
road. A new revenue law was passed with a 
number of changes from the old territorial one. 
The University of Nebraska was set in motion 
by the act of February 15, 18G9. In those 



less than $5,000 in a salt manufacturing plant 
and pay the state a royalty of two cents upon 
every 1;)ushel of salt made. The enormous 
state revenue that would soon accrue from this 
salt proposition was one of the gilded pictures 
of those early days. 

How to farm and raise stock at the same 
time and in the same neighborhood upon the 
rich, treeless prairies presented a problem that 
was solved March 4, 1870, by the enactment of 
the first general herd law for the state. This 




First Business Block in Lincoln. Built 1S68, 
Corner lOth and O Streets. 

early days when any new arrival from the east act made every stock owner responsible for 

skeptically inquired what there was at Lin- damage done by his animals and left the 

coin to make a city he was taken down to the homesteader free to plant his crop with no 

salt basin and shown the white crust which other fence than the skyline. The same Icgis- 

covered the top of the soil there during dry lature, not satisfied with the continual stream 

weather. Then he was bidden to take a lead of new Nebraskans pouring into the state, set 

pencil and figure how many million barrels of out to seek for them in the east and across the 

salt would be required every year to salt the seas by providing for a board of immigration 

population that was filling the prairies. In with an appropriation of money to print and 

harmony with all this the legislature of 1869 send abroad in as many foreign languages as 

passed an act providing for the lease of the was thought advisable, circulars describing the 

salt basin to A. C. Tichenor and others, on advantages of Nebraska and inviting foreign 

condition that they immediately invest not born people to come here to better their condi- 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



107 



tion. Congress \vas memorialized, so early as 
this, to provide the people of the United States 
with a postal telegraph system, an act was 
passed giving married women the right to 
carry on their own business, hold property, sue 
and be sued, independent of their husbands. 
The fifteenth amendment was ratified and a 
bounty of fifteen cents per head was offered 
for pocket gophers. Some of the small boys 
of that time, barefooted and freckled, who had 
never been the owners of fifteen cents in the 
whole course of their mortal lives, retain to 



basin. This instruction, it may be remarked, 
has never been repealed by any subsequent 
legislature. 

The great political event which shook the 
fabric of Nebraska society in ISTl was the 
impeachment of Governor Butler. As one of 
the commissioners who had located the capi- 
tal and provided the first state buildings, Gov- 
ernor Butler had occasion more than once to 
act outside the law in order to attain the ob- 
ject sought. In fact, the theory which in these 
early days, governed the action of officials to 




Lincoln in 1870 



this day vivid recollections of what mines of 
wealth were visible to their eyes in every 
gopher mound, after the passage of this benefi- 
cent act. The Nebraska senators and repre- 
sentatives in congress were instructed to vote 
against any more appropriations of money for 
improvements at Washington — in tht full e.x- 
pectation, as the resolution recited, that the 
capital of the United States would very soon 
be moved west into the Mississippi valley. In- 
deed there were not lacking those who freely 
prophesied that it would be located at Lincoln, 
in order to be near the immense supplies of 
salt shortly to be manufactured at the salt 



a large degree was, when anything seemed de- 
sirable, to go ahead and do it and look around 
for legal authority for the action afterward. 
In time this was bound to bring trouble, and 
so in February. 18'i'l, the Nebraska house of 
representatives presented articles of impeach- 
ment to the senate against Cjovernor Butler 
and Auditor Gillespie. There was a long list 
of charges against the governor, alleging that 
he had demanded boodle money from sexeral 
contractors upon public buildings for the state, 
but the charge-in-chief was that he had taken 
over $10,000 from the state five per cent fund 
paid by the federal government and con\'erted 



108 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



it to his own use. The governor's answer de- 
nied the charges of boodling, but admitted the 
taking of the $16,000, for which he claimed he 
had executed to the state mortgages upon 
some three thousand acres of land owned by 
him. The impeachment trial lasted through 
March, April and I\Iay, ending June 4. By a 
vote of nine to three the state senate found 
him guilty of unlawfully taking, the $16,000 
and removed him from office, — he being ac- 
quitted upon the other charges. Governor 
Butler had many friends as well as enemies 
and the trial heated the social atmosphere to a 



should be paid for without reference to any 
supposed benefits the owner of the land might 
derive from the construction of the road. 
Douglas county alone, — the center of the relig- 
ious and corporation influences, — gave nearly 
nine hundred majority against the constitu- 
lion. The western counties generally returned 
large majorities in its favor, — some of them 
twenty and thirty to one in its favor. 

Secretary of State James became acting gov- 
ernor upon the impeachment of Governor But- 
ler. The impeachment trial hS'd set every- 
thing on edge and quarrels followed between 




Mormons Crossing the Plains to Salt Lake 1856 



degree that has probably never been exceeded 
since. 

Pursuant to an act passed March 28, 1871, 
there met in Lincoln in June, of that year, a 
conxention of fifty-two members, charged with 
the duty of framing a new state constitution. 
The document was submitted to the people on 
September 19, and defeated by a vote of 7, DSC 
for. to 8,627 against. The principal objections 
to the constitution were a clause which pro- 
vided that church or benevolent property above 
the value of $5,000 belonging to any single 
association should be taxed ; another clause 
which provided that railroad right of way 



James and the legislature. The senate and 
liouse fell into a dispute on the subject of ad- 
journment and the acting governor declared 
them both adjourned. In defiance of this the 
senate met and transacted business, finally ad- 
journing. A few days later Governor James, 
having gone outside the state. Senator Isaac 
.'^. Hascall, presiding officer of the senate, 
called the legislature to meet in extra session. 
The governor returned in haste and issued a 
proclamation vetoing the extra session. Mem- 
bers of the legislature gathered at Lincoln and 
joined in the controversy. Governor James 
styled them the "rump" legislature. Anarchy 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



109 




Part of Business Portion of Lincoln, 1904. 



was on hand for a few days. The matter was 
taken before the supreme court and by a vote 
of two to one, — Judges Lake and Crounse 
against Chief Justice O. P. Mason, — the court 
held that the legislature was not legally in 
session. 

The political campaign of 1872 brought for 
a second time a "fusion" ticket into the field, — 
the liberal or Greeley republicans uniting with 
the democrats on a national and state ticket. 
Robert W. Furnas was the republican nominee 
for governor and H. C. Lett the Fusion nomi- 
nee. Furnas received 16,543 votes and Lett 
11,227. During the campaign, Dr. George L. 
Miller, editor of the Omaha Herald, printed 



charges of corruption against the republican 
nominee in connection with the attempt to re- 
move the capital from Omaha in 1856. This 
led to a libel suit by Governor Furnas 
against the Herald, which after a long trial re- 
sulted in a disagreement of the jury. 

The prosperous times and high hopes which 
animated the people during the first five years 
of statehood received a rude blow in the year 
1873, which manifested itself in various forms 
of popular discontent. The grange organiza- 
tion had already some foothold in Nebraska, 
but it grew with great rapidity during 1873. 
What had been chiefly a social organization be- 
came very soon under the pressure of hard 




Part of Residence District of Lincoln, 1904 



110 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



times an economic and then a political one. 
The gist of the farmers' complaint was 
summed up in one sentence which asserted 
that "the farmers worked harder and more 
hours than the artisans, had poorer food and 
clothing and fewer privileges, — while the men 
who handled the farmers' products were bet- 
ter ofi' than either farmers or mechanics and 
were rapidly getting rich." August 1.5, 1873, 
there were two hundred and sixty-five granges 
in Nebraska, and the order was growing fast. 



and the result of their influence was to bind 
inseparably the influence of the home with that 
of the grange. 

The grangers did not lack for grievances. 
One of them was the refusal of the Union Pa- 
cific and Burlington railroads to pay taxes on 
their land grant lands. 

The railroads claimed that until the United 
States issued patents for their lands to the 
company the title had not passed and taxes 
could not be levied. The settlers replied that 



ii*L 






'ii>-'' 




The Oldest Apple-tree in Nebraska. Planted in 1856. 
Ft. Calhoun 



An illustration of their aims is found in the 
resolutions adopted by Peru Grange, Thomas 
J. Majors, Secretary, in the autumn of 1873. 
The resolutions "request the State Grange to 
effect a plan by which the price of grain and 
stock can be regulated all over the United 
States so that we may live whilst employed in 
agricultural pursuits, and that we buy no goods 
from merchants who denounce our order." 
Women took an active part in the work and 
discussions of the grange. No grange could be 
organized without a certain number of women 



the companies were selling the lands every 
day, guaranteeing the title and as soon as a 
settler bought a tract it was at once taxed in 
his hands. They further alleged that the com- 
panies had mortgaged some of these very lands 
and that if they had title enough to mortgage 
they had title enough to tax. A meeting of 
county commissioners was held at Lincoln, 
August 7, 1873, at which York, Clay, Hamil- 
ton, Fillmore, Gage, Kearney, Adams, Lancas- 
ter, Saline, Seward, and Butler Counties were 
represented. It was resolved to engage coun- 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



111 



sel to fight these land tax cases. Meanwhile the 
United States Supreme court in a similar case 
in Kansas had held that the land was not sub- 
ject to tax for two reasons : First, because the 
company had not paid the fees and received 
their patents; Second, Ix^cause if the land was 
sold for taxes and the title acquired by a tax 
purchaser it might defeat the provision of the 
land grant act which provided that under cer- 
tain conditions the land should revert back to 
the public for settlement. The editor of The 
Lincoln State Journal dared to pronounce this 
decision in the United States Supreme Court : 
"Sheer nonsense which would defeat any tax 
ever being collected on the land." Many of the 
counties had issued bonds and warrants based 
on calculations including the taxes on these 
lands. They now found themselves unable to 
meet their obligations and their paper greatly 
depreciated. 

The revenue system of the state was a fail- 
ure. The Omaha Herald of August 23, 1873, 
declared that for four years one-third of all 
the property owners in the state had refused 
to pay taxes. More than half the Otoe county 
real estate was delinquent for ta.xes prior to 
1873. Single individuals owed from $2,000 to 
$3,000 for taxes. The county and municipal 
bonds which had been so lavishly voted to aid 
railroad and other schemes were now an intol- 
erable burden. 

When the legislature met in 1873 Governor 
Furnas told them that there were $300,000 
taxes delinquent and more than that of local 
taxes, that there was great stringency in 
money and a meagre price for farm products. 
The legislature was advised to authorize a con- 
stitutional convention. There were two factions 
in the Legislature. One of them wanted to 
comply with the constitution then in force 



which provided a plan for making a new con- 
stitution, — requiring two years time. The oth- 
er faction from the v\estern counties of the 
state were determined not to wait that long. 
They proposed framing a constitution imme- 
diately and submitting it at once to the people 
regardless of what the old constitution said. 
They pointed out that while some counties in 
the eastern part of the state had three or four 
members to the Legislature the same popula- 
tion further west had only part of one. The 
radical party prevailed and passed a bill for a 
hurry-up constitution, which Governor Furnas 
vetoed. A new bill was passed which provided 
for the submission to the people of the question 
whether a convention should be called to frame 
a new constitution. This could not be voted 
upon— under the old constitution— until the 
fall election of 1874, when it carried by a vote 
of 18,067 in favor to 3,880 against. 

Another cloud appeared upon the horizon,— 
a cloud of grasshoppers. In July 1874, the air 
was suddenly filled with uncounted millions of 
the flying insects. Corn fields disappeared 
from sight and in their stead stood a dreary 
waste of little sticks. The gardens were de- 
voured, fruit trees destroyed and even rail- 
road trains stopped by this avalanche of lo- 
custs. The sod corn which was the settlers 
main reliance in the western part of the state 
was a complete loss. There was real destitution 
in the sod houses and dug-outs along the 
border. 

The Nebraska Relief and Aid Society was 
organized, with Alvin Saunders as treasurer, 
and disbursed over $08,000 in relief. Congress 
appropriated $130,000 for relief and seed which 
was distributed by United States army officers. 
Bills were passed permitting homesteaders to 
leave their claims without losing them. With 



112 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



all these forms of organized aid the memory of 
"grasshopper days" will always be associated 
in the minds of those who lived through them 
as the hardest times in Nebraska history. The 
state was newer in development than it was 
twenty years later when it passed through a 
similar hard times experience, there was far 
less accumulated capital, railroads were more 



"Red Ribbon" revival meetings which stirred 
every Nebraska community. In the years 1877 
and 18TS the leader of the Red Ribbon work 
in Nebraska, — John B. Finch, one of the most 
gifted public speakers ever heard on any plat- 
form, — received 50,000 signatures to the tem- 
perance pledge and raised $20,000 to found 
public reading rooms as a counter attraction to 




Scene at Miltord, Nebraska 

remote and the normal conditions of life more the saloon. From this time there was an or- 

severe than they have been since. ganized political prohibition movement in the 

These hard times years were also marked state, 
by the appearance of that remarkable social When the legislature of 1875 met it faced 
manifestation, — the "Woman's Crusade" — in these conditions : The state's floating debt 
Nebraska. Beginning in Hillsdale, Ohio, it reached $432,000. Delinquent taxes due the 
spread like an autumnal prairie fire and soon state were $599,000. The previous legislature 
bands of praying and singing women were vis- had appropriated $600,000, and if all the taxes 
iting Nebraska saloons, pleading with the oro- had been paid there would have been only 
prietors and customers to abandon their prac- $400,000 to meet the appropriation. The local 
tices. The incidents of that movement might debts of the state were estimated at $4,500,000. 
alone make an interesting volume. When the The incoming governor, Silas Garber, insisted 
bands of praying women disappeared froin the upon rigid economy. Bills to remove the cap- 
saloon corners their place was taken by the ital were again numerous. The legislative ses- 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



113 




Snake River Falls. — Twenty Feet Fall 

sion was marked by acrimonious debate and a 
bitter fight over the United States senatorship 
resulting in the selection of A. S. Paddock by 
a combination of democratic and republican 
votes. A resolution to expunge the impeach- 
ment record standing against Governor Butler 
was carried after a heated controversy. The 
governor had turned over 3,400 acres of land 
to the state in settlement of the $16,000 state 
money which he had used. The land sold for 
enough to discharge the entire debt with inter- 
est. A new revenue bill providing, among 
other things, that the railroads of the state 
should not be assessed for less than $10,000 per 
mile, was vetoed by Governor Garber, and 
failed to pass over the veto. New stay and 
exemption laws were passed, more liberal to 
the debtors. And, finally, an act was passed 
providing for a constitutional convention, con- 
sisting of 69 members, who should be elected 
by the people on the first Tuesday in April, and 
meet upon the second Tuesday in May. 

It was in a frontier society, in a state with- 
out adequate revenue, with uncollected ta.xes, 
with matured and unpaid debts, among a peo- 
ple visited by Pharaoh's locust plague, with 



distress in their homes and discontent in pub- 
lic gatherings that the convention met at Lin- 
coln on May 12th, 1875, to frame the present 
constitution of Nebraska, — sometimes denom- 
inated the "Grasshopper Constitution." 

The making of the constitution has been 
treated by the writer of this sketch in a separ- 
ate monograph soon to be published. 

The main points of controversy in the con- 
\cntion were salaries of public officials, tax- 
ation — and particularly taxation of corpora- 
tions, — the liability of stock-holders, the loca- 
tion of the state capital at Lincoln, the ques- 
tion of a preference vote by the people for 
United States senators, and of limiting state 
and municipal debt. The results of the conven- 
tion's struggles and controversies are embodied 
in our present organic document, which it is 
likely will remain as such for years to come. 
The constitutional convention adjourned June 
12. 187.5, and the constitution was submitted 
to the people at* the election held October 12th. 
It was adopted by vote of 30,202 for, and 5,47'4 
against. The specially submitted proposition 
relating to United States senators was carried 
by 25,059 for, and 6,270 against; The proposi- 
tion locating the capital at Lincoln, until re- 
moved by vote of the people, prevailed by 20,- 
,042 for, and 12,517 against. 

The years 1878 and 1879 were marked in Ne- 
braska, as elsewhere in the L'nion, by slow, 
painful recovery from the effects of the panic 
of 1873. It was a period of foreclosures, and 
what the financial world politely styles "liqui- 
dation." The voice of the tax collector was 
heard in the land. The ruling rates for short 
time loans in the farming districts were from 2 
to 4 per cent a month. The foundation laid by 
the granges for independent political action 



114 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



rose upward in the superstructure of the green- 
back party, which elected a great many local 
officers, and carried some counties in the state. 
At the election of 1878 Albinus Nance, repub 
lican, received 29,469 votes, W. H. 'Webster, 
democrat, 13,473, and Levi G. Todd, green- 
backer, 9,475. Both the democratic and re- 
publican platforms denounced the demoneti- 
zation of silver and demanded the restoration 
of its free coinage, the democratic platform go- 
ing a step farther and standing for an addi- 
tional issue of legal tender greenbacks by the 
government to replace the national bank notes. 
The legislature of 1S79 passed the first Ne- 
braska act defining a tramp and prescribing a 
punishment for him. It established the state 
reform school at Kearney, and began the re- 
building of the capitol by an appropriation of 
$75,000 for the west wing. 

The decade of Nebraska life which began 
with 18S0 marks the restoration of hopeful and 
prosperous conditions in the state. The coun- 
try as a whole was emerging from a long 
nightmare of depression, which followed the 
panic of 1873. In Nebraska the people were 
struggling out of the dugout and sod house 
stage of existence into frame houses. The un- 
fortunates who had been closed out during the 
hard times had generally moved on toward the 
setting sun to begin over again, while their old 
homesteads were eagerly purchased at the pre- 
vailing prices by enterprising emigrants from 
the middle west w'ho at once began an era of 
improvement. The federal census showed the 
population had increased from 122,983 in 1870 
to 452,022 in 1880. Wealth increased from $69,- 
000,000 to $385,000,000. An era of railroad 
building, the most active the state had seen, 
began and continued through the decade. The 
great feature of Nebraska life for the ten years 




Cowboys Branding Cattle. 

which followed 1880, was the settlement of her 
western plains. For twenty-five years, by 
common consent, the western third of the state 
had been regarded as uniit for any agriculture. 
Isolated ranches had located in some of the 
beautiful valleys where free range gave the 
ranchmen unlimited opportunities for grazing. 
\'ery early in the decade the last bunch of 
buffalo disappeared from Nebraska soil, and 
the last bands of wandering Indians who had 
subsisted upon them were glad to seek the 
shelter of the United States Indian Agency 
and eat government beef. For ten years the 
government lands in the eastern half of the 
state had been culled over by the later immi- 
grants who were compelled to take the rougher 
and poorer tracts remaining. No one had 
thought, apparently, of venturing on the high 
table lands of the west to farm. Suddenly, as 
if by a common impulse, the line of homestead- 
ers and pre-empters broke through into the 
cattle country. In the remote valleys, among 
the sandhills, on the edge of canyons along 
the Niobrara, and even upon the mountainous 
table lands of Sioux and Kimball counties ap- 
peared as if by magic, the settler's sod house 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



115 



and strip of breaking. Tliis was not accom- 
plished without conflict nor even without 
bloodshed between the cattlemen and the 
homesteaders. The settlers w-ere everywhere 
told by the cattlemen that the country dried 
up in July and that it was impossible to raise 
a crop without irrigation. To the intense dis- 
gust and astonishment of the same cattlemen 
a cycle of rainy years arrived with the home- 
steaders. Crops grew famously everywhere, 
wheat yielding thirty bushels to the acre, corn 



farthest borders. At the same time with the 
extension of farming over western Nebraska, 
came a great development of manufacturing in 
the eastern part of the state. The great pack- 
ing and stockyard center at South Omaha was 
developed. The first beet sugar factory was 
erected at ("irand Island. The production of 
multitudes of diiTerent manufactured articles, 
which had formerly been imported from the 
east, was begun in Nebraska. 

Nebraska's third speculative fever and real 




Nebraska Elk on Farm of John Gilbert, Friend, Nebraska. 



thirty to forty, and all kinds of vegetables en- 
ormously, whether upon the gumbo lands of 
the White River valley, or the high table lands 
of Box Butte and Perkins. Along with this 
rush of homesteaders went the extension of 
the Northwestern railroad to the Black Hills, 
the completion of the Burlington to Denver 
and the Big Horn country, and the driving of 
helds of elk and deer and antelope, with 
the great cattle outfits, before the advancing 
line of farmers and town-builders. When the 
decade ended Nebraska was settled to her 



estate boom accompanied this new material 
progress. It was a period of borrowing. The 
supply of eastern money to be had on real 
estate security was unlimited. Loan agents 
flourished in every hamlet, and, not content 
witli (irdinary routine business, drove from 
farm to farm trying to persuade the owner to 
"take out a loan." The main feature of the 
real estate boom of the fifties was laying out 
pajier towns which had no existence, and sell- 
ing lots therein. The boomers of the eighties 
had a different system. Their plan was to lay 



lit; 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



out "additions" to the various centers of pop- 
ulation already established until these addi- 
tions to rival cities met in corn fields half way 
between. Lots were sold at good prices in 
"additions" to Lincoln and Omaha where, at 
this day, the peaceful market gardener pur- 
sues his vocation and the long rows of Ne- 
braska corn rustle in the summer wind. 

The political history of this period was very 
much like its economic development, — all one 
way. The state had become solidly republican. 



build another wing to the capitol. Agitation 
for temperance laws and woman sufifrage had 
become so strong that the Slocumb high li- 
cense law was passed and woman sufifrage sub- 
mitted to the people in the form of a constitu- 
tional amendment. This amendment was de- 
feated by the people. — 25,7-56 votes for and 
50,693 against. Another state institution, — 
the Home for the Friendless, — was established. 
In 1882 a strike of laborers in Omaha resulted 
in riots and the calling out of the militia by 




A Pioneer Home on the Plains. (Photo by Kimberly) 



and the party irianagers acted upon the theory 
that it never could be anything else. The 
strength of the democratic party was confined 
to about a dozen counties along the Missouri 
and Platte rivers. At the election of 1880 
Governor Albinus Nance received 55,237 votes, 
while his opponent, ex-Senator Tipton, who 
had now become a democrat, had 28,167. In 
the legislature which met in the winter of 1881, 
Charles H. Van Wyck was elected United 
States senator to succeed Paddock. One hun- 
dred thousand dollars was appropriated to 



Governor Nance. The expense to the state 
was $11,050. At the election in 1882 James W. 
Dawes, the republican candidate for governor 
was elected, having 43,495 votes, while J. 
Sterling Morton, democrat, received 28,562, 
and E. P. Ingersoll, greenback, 16,691. This 
result, — showing the republican party in a 
minority, although on a light vote, — brought 
about two years later the third fusion ticket in 
state politics — -democrats and greenbackers 
uniting on a mixed ticket for electors and state 
officers. The popular vote for governor was. 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



117 



J. W. Dawes, republican, 72,835 ; J. Sterling 
Morton, democrat and greenbacker, 57,634 ; 
J. G. Miller, prohibitionist, 3,075. The legisla- 
ture in 18S3, passed a township orgainzation 
law, a mutual insurance law and an appropria- 
tion for the main part of the new capitol build- 
ing, to cost $450,000. The greenback party 
disappeared from Nebraska politics. The re- 
publican party was divided into two wings, — 
the anti-monopoly, and the railroad or ma- 
chine. The controversies between these two 



coal in paying quantities would not be found 
in Nebraska. A new state institution was 
added — the Institution for Feeble Minded, at 
Beatrice. 

In 1886 the vote for governor was, John M. 
Thayer, republican, 75,956; J. E. North, demo- 
crat, 52,656; H. W. Hardy, prohibitionist, 
8,175; J. Burrows, nationalist, 1,422. The leg- 
islative session of 1887 resulted in the defeat 
of Senator C. H. Van Wyck for re-election 
and the selection of A. S. Paddock. This wa3 




A Sunday School Gathering on the Plains. {Photo by Kimberly.) 



factions was for some years the most interest- 
ing feature of our political life. Eventually 
the anti-monopoly faction disappeared. The 
legislature of 1885 to quiet anti-monopoly agi 
tation passed the first act providing for a 
board of railroad commissioners with three 
secretaries who were to adjust any complaints 
against railroad companies. Another import- 
ant act was one providing for the sinking of a 
test well at the salt basin in Lincoln to de- 
termine the presence of coal, salt or other min- 
erals beneath Nebraska soil. The well was 
sunk 2,463 feet, and the result confirmed the 
already expressed opinion of geologists, that 



a triumph of the "regulars" over the anti- 
monopoh' or mugwump republicans. Three 
new state institutions were created by this 
session, — the Insane Asylum at Hastings, the 
Soldiers' and Sailors' Home at Grand Island, 
and the Woman's Industrial Hoine at Milford. 
Two new bureaus of state administration were 
made, — the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the 
Oil Inspector's office. The legislature made a 
recount of the vote upon a constitutional 
amendinent, lengthening the legislative ses- 
sion to sixty days, and declared the same car- 
ried. An act reapportioning the state into leg- 
islative districts was passed, which remains 



118 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



unchanged on the statute book to this day. An 
act was passed forbidding pooling by grain 
dealers in Nebraska, and another prohibiting 
non-resident aliens from acquiring lands in the 
state. 

For governor in 1888, John M. Thayer re- 
ceived 104,282 votes, John A. McShane, demo- 
crat, 83,820 ; George E. Bigelow, prohibition- 
ist, 9,715, and David Butler, the first governor 
of the state, who now appeared as the labor 
candidate, — 3,631. 

The decade beginning 1890, came in, ap- 



speculativc values and the conversion of cat- 
tle ranges into IGO-acre farms, and corn- 
fields into town lots. But there were the fig- 
ures, and an active arm)' of real estate boom- 
ers hailed them with delight and proceeded to 
lay off more additions. The political sky was 
likewise almost cloudless. The factional fight 
in the republican party had almost disappeared 
and everything seemed to promise a long con- 
tinuance of existing conditions. It is true 
there was some discontent among farmers over 
]i)w prices for grain, and a rapid organization 



^BHtls Du 


IJjL 


"i 


^^^ m^' 1 


Bi 


1 . 








■i 




^ 



Eagle Creek Mill-Dam. Turner. Holt County. Nebraska 



parently, for Nebraska on a flood tide of har- 
mony and prosperity. The previous ten years 
had witnessed the greatest material growth 
in the state's history. The census figures in- 
dicated a population of 1,0.58, .510 against 450,- 
022 in 1880. It is now known and admitted, 
however, that the federal census of that year 
was padded by the officers in charge from 
50,000 to 100,000 names. Wealth, by the same 
census, had grown from $385,000,000 to $1,- 
275,000,000, indicating that while population 
had doubled wealth had trebled. Whether 
these figures, also, were padded or not, much 
of this vast increase in wealth was fictitious — 



during the year 1889 of Farmer's Alliances, — • 
a new agricultural organization, — but nothing 
^^o far to indicate the great role it was to play 
in the near future. 

With the summer of 1890 the season 
changed from the wet to the dry cycle of years. 
\\'eek after week of hot dry weather prevailed. 
( )ver more than half of the state there was no 
corn to husk, and a very light crop elsewhere. 
The brilliant soap bubble of speculation burst. 
Cornfield town lots found no purchasers. The 
era of borrowing was at an end. Pay day was 
at hand, and nothing to pay with. 

The political campaign of 1890 in Nebraska 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



119 




A Typical Nebraska Residence Built by Ex-Governor Nance 



was a never-to-be-forgotten one. A constitu- i)r<_icessions addressed by the orators of their 

tional amendment prohibiting the manufacture organization. There were no crops to gather 

and sale of liquor was to l)e voted upon by the so the people gathered in numbers never seen 

people. The interests involved were thoroughly before or since, out in the groves away from 

aroused, and a campaign of great energy was the towns. Farmers' Alliance parades seven 

maintained upon that issue. The republican and eight miles long were among the sights of 

party nominated L. 1). Richards, of Fremont, the campaign, and the enthusiasm of the mon- 

for governor, and tried to avoid committing ster meetings defied descri])tion. Every where 

itself on the licjuor question. The democrats there was a breaking" away from former politi- 

nominated J. E. Boyd, of Omaha, as an out- cal affiliation, and the chorus "Good bye old 

spoken opponent of all prohibitory laws, and party. Good bye" was chanted with religioits 

forced the fighting on that issue. The Farm- fervor by thousands of throats. The Hon. 

ers' Alliance organization entered the field for C'liurch Howe of Nemaha county, one of the 

the first time with a ticket headed by John H. republican leaders, expressed the situation 

Powers, and challenged both the old parties to when he said "the old ship is leaking." When 

a combat on economic questions. On July 1, the returns of the November election were 

1890, there were 1,500 alliances in the state canvassed it was clearly seen that a political 

with ."iO.OOO members. The feature of the cam- revolution had taken place, 'i'he new peoples 

paign was the enormous farmei's picnics and independent party had elected a majority of 



120 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



the legislature, and two out of three congress- 
men. The vote, as canvassed, for governor 
was J. E. Boyd, n,331, J. H. Powers, 70,187, 
L. D. Richards 68,878. Charges of fraud in 
connection with the Douglas county vote were 
immediatel}' made. The intense interest tak- 
en in the contest over the prohibitory amend- 
ment in the city of Omaha had resulted in the 
total vote of Douglas county reaching the 
phenomenal total figure of 26,167. Mr. 



independent party. When the legislature met 
stormy times ensued. There was a conflict 
of authority between the legislature and the 
supreme court on the question of canvassing 
the returns, at times approaching civil war. 
The action of the Alliance candidates forced 
the democrats and the republicans into a com- 
bination for the purpose of seating their re- 
spective state officers. Eventually the contest 
failed and Governor Boyd and the republican 




Poetry of the Farm 



Boyd as the candidate of the anti-prohibition 
element had received the benefit of this large 
increase. It was noted on election night that 
no returns could be secured from Douglas 
county and the charge was freely made that 
the vote there was being held back in order 
to ascertain what majority was needed to de- 
feat the prohibitory amendment. 

On the face of the returns the democratic 
governor and the rest of the republican state 
ticket were elected. Contest was filed against 
all of these by the candidates of the peoples' 



candidates who had certificates of election 
gained possession of their offices. All parties 
in the legislature united in appropriating $200,- 
000 for the relief of the drouth-stricken parts 
of the state. The railroads gave free transpor- 
tation for all supplies and seeds. The reports 
to the governor's office showed that there were 
6,000 families in the western part of the state 
lacking the necessities of life, and 10,000 fami- 
lies lacking seed for another crop. Among the 
important acts of this session were the passage 
of the first Australian ballot law, the law for 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



121 



the district ownership of school text books, the dissenting, in Thayer"s favor, and gave him 

law requiring public funds to be deposited at possession of the office in May, 1891. On ap- 

interest for the benefit of the public treasury, peal to the supreme court of the United States, 

the law repealing the bounty on beet sugar a decision was rendered in Boyd's favor, and 

passed by the legislature of 1889. The great he resumed possession of the office February 

struggle of the session was over the passage 1st, 1892. 

of an act regulating railroad freight rates. In the race for governor in 1892, Lorenzo 



which was vetoed by Governor Boyd, and 
failed to pass over the veto. 

The general social unrest of the time 
reached the Sioux Indians on the borders of 



Crounse, republican received 78,436 votes, C. 
H. Van\^'^yck, peoples independent, 68,617, J. 
Sterling Morton, democrat, 44,195, C. E. Bent- 
ley, prohibitionist, 6,235. The principal fea- 



northwest Nebraska resulting in the Sioux ture of the campaign was a series of joint de- 




The Old Burlington Beach. Lincoln 



outbreak of 1890-91, the battle of Wounded 
Knee on December 29th, 1890, where 32 sol- 
diers and 200 Indians were killed. The Ne- 
braska state militia under General Colby was 
ordered to protect the northern border and re- 
mained there in service for some weeks, at a 
total cost to the state of $38,000. After the 
failure of the contest against the incoming 
state officers, an action was instituted by ex- 
Governor Thayer against Governor Boyd for 
the possession of his office, on the ground that 
Boyd had not been legally naturalized prior 
to his election. The supreme court of Ne- 
braska rendered judgment. Justice ^Maxwell 



bates between Crounse and \'an Wyck, prin- 
cipally personal attacks u])on each other. The 
legislature elected at the same time was nearly 
equally balanced between the republicans and 
independent party, with tlie democrats holding 
the balance of power in both houses. A 
long struggle ensued over the election of Unit- 
ed States senator, ending in the choice of 
Judge William V. Allen of Madison who re- 
ceived the votes of the independent and dem- 
ocratic members. Impeachment proceedings 
were brought against the reimhlican state offi- 
cers, members of the board of Public Lands 
and Buildings, for misuse of public fiuuls. Up- 



122 



SE.MI-CENTEKNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




*^| 



Corn Husking Season 



on trial of the impeachment before the su- 
preme court, Judsjes Nor\-al and Post rendered 
decision in favor of the officials, with Judge- 
Maxwell again dissenting. A large part of 
the session was consumed in another strug- 
gle over the passage of a maximum railroad 
rate bill. The act as passed was signed by 
Governor Crounse and immediately taken into 
the federal courts by the companies interested. 
The summer of 1894 witnessed a far more 
severe and general drouth in Nebraska than 
any which had previously occurred in her 
history. The corn crop was almost a com- 
plete failure, and destitution again appeared 
in the central and western counties. A politi- 
cal contest of most strenuous intensitv was 



w".' ed over the election of governor. The 
pe(r)le's independent party nominated Judge 
.'^ih-s A. Holcomb of Broken Bow. After a very 
bitter contest a majority in the democratic 
state convention, led by \\'. J, Bryan, en- 
(Ii rsed Judge Holcomb, — the Cleveland demo- 
c-r:'ts bolting and nominating a separate ticket. 
The republican state convention nominated 
Thomas J. ^Majors of Peru, — followed by a 
holt of Edward Rosewater, editor of the 
( )nrdia Bee, who supported Judge Holcomb 
with great energy. The democrats nominated 
\\ . J. Bryan as their candidate for United 
.*^tates senator. The leading republican candi- 
date was John M. Thurston and a series of 
joint debates lictween these two able speakers 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



123 




Wheat Stacks and Fields at Overton, Nebraska 

was another feature of the campaign. Judge per pound upon the production of beet sugar 
Holcomb received 9~,S15 votes, Majors 91,G13, and added a bounty on the production of 
Sturdevant, Cleveland democrat, G,985 and chicory. It established a state banking board 
Gerrard, proliil)itionist, 4,439. The republicans and an additional soldiers home at Milford, 
secured the legislature by a large majority and passed a general irrigation act, an act to pro- 
elected John M. Thurston to- the United tect the butter producers, submitted twelve 
States senate. The legislature appropriated amendments to the state constitution and en- 
$250,000 for seed and food to drouth sufferers, acted that the Golden Rod should be the floral 
besides $38,000 received in donations. It re- emblem of the state, 
enacted the law giving a bounty of one cent 




An Artesian Well 



124 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



In the presidential campaign of the year 1896 
Nebraska became a central figure in the na- 
tion's politics. The triumph of the free silver 
wing in the national democratic convention, 
followed by the nomination of William J. 
Bryan for president, and his subsequent nom- 
ination by the peoples party at St. Louis 
brought about a complete fusion between the 
peoples independent and democratic parties in 
the state of Nebraska resulting in the election 
of an entire state ticket, a majority of both 



more important measures passed by this leg- 
islature were an act to regulate charges in the 
South Omaha stockyards, an act to prohibit 
corporations from contributing money to elec- 
tion campaigns, a^stringent anti-trust act, an 
act to prevent the adulteration of food, an 
act providing for the initiative and referendum, 
an act forbidding further sale of school lands. 

Before another legislature assembled in the 
spring of 1898 war began between the United 
States and Spain. Three regiments of Ne- 




Farm and. Alfalfa Field 



houses of the legislature, and four out of six 
members of congress. Investigation by the 
incoming officers disclosed that the outgoing 
republican state treasurer, J. S. Bartley, was 
defaulter in the sum of $553,074.61, and the 
outgoing auditor, Eugene Moore, had col- 
lected $28,000 of fees which he had failed to 
turn into the state treasury. Prosecution of 
both of these officials resulted in Moore's ac- 
quittal on a technicality, and Bartley's con- 
viction and sentence to imprisonment for 
twenty years in the penitentiary. Some of the 



braska soldiers, in all nearly 4,000 men, were 
furnished. The First regiment sailed to the 
Philippines, took part in the capture of Manila 
from the Spaniards, fired the first shot in the 
subsequent war with the Filipinos, took part 
in half a dozen battles losing its commander. 
Colonel Stotsenberg, and returned after a 
year's absence. The Second regiment was sent 
to the great military camp at Chattanooga, 
where it remained in camp until the close of 
the war. The Tliird regiment crossed to Cuba 
and had part in the military occupation of the 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



125 









nX '1EK/«7 


E^^PB»M| 


Oh 




^1 



A Typical Old Settlers Meeting. Pioneers of 1854. Dawson and Richardson County, 1901 



island. In iMarch, 1898, the United States 
supreme Court, rendered decision in tlie maxi- 
mum rate case involving the act passed by 
the legislature in 1893. The court held that 
the legislature had the right to fix reasonable 
maximum charges for transportation within 
the state, but that the rates fixed by the act 
were too low, and therefore void. The election 
of 1898 disclosed a falling off in fusion 
strength, — W. A. Poynter, nominee of the peo- 
ple's independent and democratic parties, re- 
ceiving 95,703 votes, M. L. Hayward, republi- 
can, 92,982, and R. V. Muir, prohibitionist, 1,- 
724. The republicans secured the legislature 
and chose M. L. Hayward United States sen- 
ator. Among the bills passed was a corrupt 
practice act, liiniting election expenses, an 
act to prevent child labor, an act appropriating 
$2-5,000 for the purchase of the governor's 
mansion, and acts creating a marks and brands 
commission, a barbers' examining hoard, a 



state insurance bureau, and a state embalming 
board. 

The presidential election of 1900 witnessed 
the return to power of the republican party in 
the state of Nebraska. The chief cause for 
this change is yet matter of dispute between 
those interested in political affairs. Among 
the causes which affected the situation may 
. be enumerated : — the natural inclination of the 
luiman mind to swing from one side of the 
pendulum's arc to the other, dissatisfaction 
among fusionists over the failure of their offi- 
cials to accomplish any regulation of railroad 
rates, dissatisfaction of populists with the re- 
jection of their nominee for vice president by 
the national democratic convention, which 
again nominated W. J. Bryan for the presi- 
dency, and general improvement in the indus- 
trial condition of the country under republican 
national administration, manifesting itself in 
better prices for the products of Nebraska 



126 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



farms and ranches. Whichever of these causes 
was the dominant one, the result was the elec- 
tion of the entire republican state and electoral 
tickets by a plurality of about 8,000. For gov- 
ernor W. A. Poynter, fusion, received 113,018 
votes, C. H. Dietrich, republican, 113,879, L. 
O. Jones, prohibition, 4,315, Taylor Flick, mid- 
road populist, 1,095. The legislature again 
was republican. By the death of Senator Hay- 
ward there were two United States senators 



It enacted an inheritance tax law, an act for 
the relief of settlers upon Boyd county school 
land, and it created a state game warden, a 
state library commission, and a state board of 
charities and corrections. 

Lieutenant Governor Savage became gover- 
nor upon the election of Governor Deitrich to 
the oilice of L-nited States Senator. His action 
in pardoning ex-State Treasurer Bartley from 
the penitentiary awakened a storm of protest 




Mill and Dam Across Republican River at Orleans. (Photo, by G. E. Condra, 
Department of Geology, U. of N,) 



to be chosen at this session, ami an intensely 
bitter factional struggle in the republican 
party ensued ending only on the last day of 
the session by the withdrawal of the two lead- 
ing republican candidates, D. E. Thompson of 
Lincoln, and Edward Rosewater, of Omaha, 
and the selection of Governor C. H. Dietrich, 
of Hastings and J. H. Millard of Omaha, as 
senators. This legislature abolished the state 
board of transportation, — thus ending a twen- 
ty-five years' struggle to regulate railway 
freight rates in the state by an abandonment 
of the issue. 



in his own party as well as elsewhere, and vir- 
tually forced him out of the race as a candidate 
before his party's convention in 1903. After a 
very animated contest the republicans nomi- 
nated John H. Mickey, of Polk county, as 
their candidate. The democratic and the peo- 
ples independent state conventions met at the 
same time in the city of Grand Island, and 
were deadlocked all night upon the question 
of which should name the candidate for gov- 
ernor. At daylight the populist convention 
accepted W. H. Thompson, of Grand Island, 
the democratic nominee. The campaign turned 



TIIF. STATE OV XETSRASKA 



127 



chiefly upon the question of raih-oad influence 
in state politics and the personality of the 
nominees for governor. J. H. Mickey received 
96,471, \V. H. Thompson 91,110, S. T. Davies, 
prohibitionist, 3,397, G. E. Bigelow, socialist, 
3,157. The republicans elected a three-fourths 
majority of both houses of the legislature. The 
all-consuming question before the legislature 
was the framing of a new revenue law. The 
many interests involved made this a difficult 



A branch experimental state farm was located 
at North Platte. A system of junior or sum- 
mer state normal schools was established, an 
act requiring railroads to give elevator firms 
or associations equal shipping privileges, and 
an act to compel the destruction of prairie dogs 
liy the owners of the land where the dog 
towns were located. 

The changes in the physical map of Ne- 
braska deserve a paragraph. The original ter- 




American Smelting and Refining Company's Buildings, Omaha 



problem. The bill which finally became law 
made a number of radical changes, among 
them the substitution of a county assessor with 
a force of deputies for each county, instead of 
the old precinct assessor system, a more rigid 
and searching form of schedule and oath to se- 
cure the assessment of personal proi)crty, the 
listing of property at its full cash value, and 
its assessment for taxation at one-fifth thereof, 
and the granting of additional power to county 
and state boards of equalization. A new state 
institution was established, — an additional 
normal school which was located at Kearney. 



ritory of Nebraska was bounded on the north 
by the British Possessions, on the west by the 
Rocky mountains, on the south by the 40th de- 
gree of latitude, and on the east by the Mis- 
souri and White Earth rivers, including a large 
part of what is now the states of North and 
South Dakota, Montana. \\'yoming and Colo- 
rado. By the act of March 2, 1860, the Terri- 
tory c)f Dakota was created, including the re- 
gion north of the 43rd degrees of latitude, the 
Keya Paha and Niobrara rivers. The same 
act added to Nebraska a tract of country west 
of the Rocky mountains which had been part 



128 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



of Utah and ^\'asllingto^. By the act of Feb- 
riian- 28, 1861, Colorado was organized, cut- 
ting out a part of the southwest corner of Ne- 
braska. Idaho was organized in March, 1863, 
taking that part of Nebraska west of the 104th 
degree of longitude, — our present western lim- 
it. In 1882 the triangular tract between the 
Niobrara, the Keya Paha, the Missouri, and 
the 43rd degree of latitude was added to Ne- 



carliest art association we have record of is a 
"sketch class" started by Mrs. Charles F. Cat- 
lin, at Omaha in 1877. In 1879, the first art 
loan exhibition was held in' Omaha. In 1888 
Mr. Lininger of Omaha began the erection of 
his private gallery, which is now opened to the 
public each week, and contains some $200,000 
worth of original paintings^many of them 
masterpieces of European as well as Ameri- 





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St. Paul's Church. Lincoln. Nebraska. 190t 



braska and became subsequently Boyd county. 
Since then the only changes in Nebraska's 
boundaries have been slight ones along the 
Missouri river, the result of changes in its 
channel and negotiations with Iowa, Missouri 
and South Dakota. 

Art and literature are the final blossoms of 
every civilization. Nebraska with her meagre 
half-century of organized existence, has hard- 
ly reached the age to possess a distinctive art 
and literature of her own. A brief reference to 
beginnings is all that can here be made. The 



can art. In 1890 the Omaha art exhibition 
association was formed, which is carrying on 
its work today. The beginnings of art in- 
struction at the state university were in the 
year 1880, when room was granted for the 
use of an art teacher who received private pu- 
pils. In 1888 the Hayden Art Association 
was formed at Lincoln to be succeeded ten 
years later by the Art Association, which holds 
annual exhibitions of noted pictures in the 
University Art Gallery. 
The literature of Nebraska has existed 



THE STATE OF NEBRASKA 



chiefly in its newspaper form. Some of the or- 
naments of Nebraska newspaper Hfe in the use 
of clear, epigramatic English have been J. D. 
Calhoun, formerly of the Lincoln Journal, now 
of Tampa, Florida ; Fred Nye, formerly of the 
Omaha Republican; Ed Howe, now of the 
Atchison Globe ; Edward Rosewater of the 
Omaha Bee, C. H. Gere of the Lincoln Journal, 
R. L. Metcalfe of the Omaha World-Herald, 
Ross Hammond of the Fremont Tribune, Er- 
ne^^t Bross. now manasfins; editor of the Port- 



braska themes. Some additional Nebraska 
newspaper men who have written literature 
are John A. MacMurphy, for a long time 
writer on the Omaha Herald ; Allen May, of 
Falls City ; Adam Breed, of Hastings, and 
Edgar Howard of Columbus. 

Fifty years ago there were less than a thou- 
sand white people in Nebraska territory, today 
more than a million. The total wealth then 
was probably not $100,000, now between one 
and two billions. Then there was not a single 




First Church Built in Lincoln, 1868 



land Oregonian ; Walter Wellman, now of the 
Chicago Record-Herald. Among Nebraska 
poets and essayists, may be noted Prof. O. C. 
Dake, author of Nebraska Legends — the first 
book of Nebraska poetry known to have been 
printed ; N. K. Griggs of Lincoln ; Mrs. Peat- 
tie, formerly of Omaha, A. L. Bixby of the 
Lincoln Journal ; Walt Mason of the Beatrice 
Summary ; J. A. Edgerton, now of New York 
City; Kate M. Cleary, formerly of Hubbell, a 
writer of stories of Nebraska life ; W. R. 
Lighton, of Omaha, a magazine writer on Ne- 



cultivated farm — today there are 125,000, with 
crops worth $102,000,000. Then not a factory 
or mile of railroad. Today 5,414 manufacturing 
establishments, with a product worth $144,000,- 
000 each year, and 5,700 miles of railroad. Fifty 
years ago this summer a single newspaper, the 
Palladium, at Bellevue. Today 600 newspapers 
and magazines. Fifty years ago not a school 
in active operation. Today 6,000 common 
schools and higher ones by the hundred. Fifty 
years ago an unfenced buffalo pasture, with no 
rank in civilized society. Today — in the union 



130 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



of forty-five sister states, which forms the 
strongest nation in the world — her rank is 
tenth in total value of farm products, eighth 
in the production of wheat, fourth in the pro- 
duction of corn, fourth in number of cattle and 
swine, third in manufacture of meat products, 
and first of all in education qualification of her 
people. In fifty years Nebraska has given the 
world its central battle ground for the settle- 
ment of the most pressing world problems, 
from slavery to monopoly ; she has given na- 
tional leadership to both sides in these strug- 
gles; she has given the nation twice a leading 



The following is a list of principal original sources of 
information on Nebraska history. Many more might be 
added, but this brief list will furnish most of the facts 
necessary for any student who desires to make original 
Investigation: 

Early Spanish history — 14th Report U. S. Ethnologi- 
cal Bureau, giving an account of Coronado's journey; H. 
H. Bancrofts History of New Mexico. 

Indian historj- — Hth and ISth Reports V. S. Ethnolog- 
ical Bureau. 

Nebraska Geologj- — Haydens t'. S. Geological Survey 
of Nebraska. 1ST2; E. H. Barbour. Nebraska Geological 
Report. 1903. 

Early Fiench — Margry. Decouvertes et Etablisse- 



candidate for president, she has given the 
world an Arbor day. Highest of all, her broad 
prairies and lofty table lands, have given birth 
to a race of clear visioned, independent 
minded, progressive men and women. Unfet- 
tered by the dogmatism of the past in politics, 
in religion, in economics, in human sympathy 
and aspiration, may Nebraska never fail in her 
leadership. 

Nor heed the sceptic's punny hands. 

While near her school the church spire stands; 

Nor fear the blinded bigot's rule, 

While near her church spire stands the school. 

A. E. SHELDON. 



ments (in French*. La Hontan. Voyage (in French), 
Charlevoix, Travels in North America. 

Early American — Lewis & Clark Travels, 1S04; Wash- 
ington Irving. Astoria and Captain Bonneville; Long's 
Expedition. 1S19; John Irving. Indian Sketches; Maximil- 
ian. Travels; George Catlin. North American Indians; 
Townsends Travels; Fremont's Explorations; Larpenteur. 
Forty Years Fur Trade; H. M. Chittenden. History of 
the Missouri Fur Trade. Steamboating on the Missouri; 
Parkman. Oregon Trail; Nebraska State Historical So- 
ciety Reports. — ten volumes, flies of Nebraska newspa- 
pers in State Historical Library, H. W. Caldwell. Educa- 
tion in Nebraska, published by U. S. Bureau of Educa- 
tion. Nebraska Legislative Journals. Session Laws. Ne- 
braska Official Reports. , 



PART II 



STATE INSTITUTIONS. 



CHAPTER XI 



Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. 



This institution is located at Omaha, and its 
grounds comprise twenty-three acres. At first 
there was but one brick building, while now 
the buildings number seven brick and three 
frame. The buildings and furnishings are val- 
ued at $300,000.00. The school was established 
in 1869, with an attendance of only thirteen 
pupils, and during the first year, the institution 
was maintained at a cost of $2,995. At present 
there is an attendance of about two hundred 
afiflicted boys and girls and every year about 
$40,000.00 are expended in the support of the 
school. Since its establishment, the school has 
had five superintendents, William M. Finch 
having been the first one tj hoM that position. 
Two years later, R. H. Kinney, from Colum- 
bus, Ohio, was put in charge and he remained 
in this position during eight years. He was 
followed by J. A. Gillespie and wife, who came 
from the Iowa Institution at Council Bluffs. 
At this time there were fifty-three students, 
but at the end of their twenty years' adminis- 
tration the number had increased to one hun- 
dred and sixty. In 1897, H. E. Dawes suc- 
ceeded Mr. Gillespie and in 1901, R. E. Stew- 
art, the present superintendent, liegan his term 



of office. Besides the usual courses of instruc- 
tion, an industrial department is connected 
with the school, in which students are taught 
to be self-supporting. Four graduates of the 
1903 class of this institution are now enrolled 
in ( lallandet College, the national college for 
the deaf at Washington, D. C. The school 
term is nine months long. The students are 
furnished everything free with the exception 
of clothing and railroad fare. In 1899 an ap- 
propriation of $38,700 was granted by the leg- 
islature for new school buildings. Only well 
trained teachers are employed, by whom the 
pupils are attended with special care. Sickness 
is prevented by regular diet, exercise and 
cleanliness. The students become good self 
supporting citizens and many of them attain 
remarkable success. 

The appropriation necessary for the salaries 
and wages of officers and employees for the 
two years ending March 1, 1905, is as follows : 
Salary of Superintendent, $3,000.00 ; salary of 
Matron, $1,000.00; salary of teachers, foremen, 
physician, clerk, supervisors and nurse, $35000; 
employees' wages, $8,000.00. The total ex- 
penditure runs about $75,000.00 each biennial. 



132 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




E 



STATE INSTrrUTIONS 



133 




Institute lor the Blind. Ncbrasl<a City. 
The Nebraska School for the Blind. 
This school is a state institution at which numbers fifty-five pupils, and the compensa- 
attendance is absolutely free. The pupils re- tion of officers is as follows : Superintendent 
ceive instruction and are given board and and Steward, $1,800 per annum ; Matron, 
rooms at the institute without cost, the only . $400.00 per annum ; Physician, $180.00 per an- 
requirement being that they shall furnish their num. The superintendents who have had 
own clothing. The school was established at charge of the school since its establishment 
Nebraska City in 1875 and Professor Samuel and the dates of beginning their term are as 
Bacon, a blind man, acted as its first superin- follows: Samuel Bacon, March 1, 1875; J. B. 
tendent. There are three departments of in- Parmalee, November 23, 1877; C. D. Rake- 
struction, the literary, the music and the in- straw, April 21, 1891; J. B. Parmalee, May 5, 
dustrial. In the literary department the com- 1891; C. D. Rakestraw, February 15, 1892; 
mon and high school branches are taught ; in Wm. Ebright, April 10, 1893 ; D. Neil Johnson, 
the music department, courses in vocal and Ocotber 5, 1895; Wm. A. Jones, Tvlarch 1, 
instrumental music are given; in the industrial 189G ; J. E. Harris, June 9, 1899; J. T. Morey, 
department, means of making a livelihood are March, 1901. The total appropriation neces- 
taught, such as piano tuning, broom making, sary to sustain the school is between $50,000.00 
weaving, sewing and cooking. The attendance and $60,000.00 biennially 



l34 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




W_ *. i- -- . » ^-v*^ . t 



STATE INSTITUTIONS. 



135 




Nebraska Boys' Industrial School. 
Since its orpfanization in 1870, this institution 
has had in all fourteen hundred and eighty- 
three inmates. The first building was erected 
in ISSl by means of a state appropriation and 
it was known as the State Reform School. In 
1887, by a legislative act, the name was 
changed to that of State Industrial School. 
The names of the Superintendents have been : 
C. W. Hoxie, James M. Campbell, John T. 
Mallalieu, Dr. J. V. Beghtol and B. D. Hay- 
ward. The school is located at Kearney. 



Boys Industrial School. Kearney 

The Nebraska Girls' Industrial School. 
This school, which is located at Geneva, is 



ill charge of Horace M. Clark, as Superin- 
tendent. Originally the boys and girls were 
ill the same institution at Kearney, but the 
work was not satisfactory, and a division of 
the school was made in March, 1892. The at- 
tendance varies from fifty to sixty, which is a 
little over half the capacity of the school. The 
law governing this institution was amended 
in 1902 so as to provide for the commitment 
of any girl, who is vagrant or vicious, under 



136 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




o 



3 



o 



STATE INSTITUTIONS 



137 




Sailors' and Soldiers' Home, Grand Island 



the age of eighteen years. The present build- ing. In the industrial department the girls 

ings were erected in 1891, at a cost of about learn how to do cooking, dressmaking and 

$30,000.00. They are ample for the accom- general housework. About four hundred and 

modation of one hundred inmates. The insti- fifty girls have already been trained at 

tution is not a house of retention, but a school this school. The cost of maintaining the 

and home for incorrigible girls, where they school is about $10,000.00 per year. 
receive intellectual, industrial and moral train- 



Asylum for Incurable Insane. 

This institution was established at Hastings be cared for. Such improvements were fre- 

on the first of August in the year of 1889. At quently made and now the building will hold 

first the hospital was capable of accommodat- one thousand inmates. The estimated cost of 

ing one hundred and fifty patients. In 1893, the institution as a whole is $1,250,000.00. 

the asylum was enlarged to such an extent The arrangements are modern and the grounds 

that three hundred and ninety people might large and well cared for. 



138 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




S'l'ATl': 1 XSTITL'TIOXS 



139 




Home for the Friendless, Lincoln 



Lincoln Hospital for the Insane. 

This hospital ranks among the first insti- 
tutions of the kind in the United States. It 
is entirely modern in its appointments and is 
capable of accommodating six hundred 
patients. It was put into use April IT, 1871 
and was at that time the only public institu- 
tion owned by the state. The first building 
was burned, but it was rei)laced soon after. 
The hospital is situated southwest of Lincoln 
and is surrounded by eight liundred and 
eighty acres of cultivated land. The build- 
ings, together with the land connected with 
them have been an e.xpense of over 
$T.")t).000.O(). Dr. J. L. (ireene is Superin- 
tendent oi the Institution. 



State Home for the Friendless. 

The State Home for the Friendless is located 
in Lincoln. The property belonging to it con- 
sists of 2.07 acres of ground on which there 
are five buildings and a small greenhouse. 
E\ery department of this institution is carried 
on in a careful and systematic manner and is 
one of the most deserving public institutions 
in the state in the interest of charity. There 
are the main and school buildings, laundry, 
cottage, or hospital, and barn. The annual 
expenditure for operating the institution is 
about $lG,Ono.()0. Mrs. Mary P.. Sohus is the 
-Superintendent, and on December 1, 1903, 
there were seventy-two inmates in the Home 
for the Friendless. 



140 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




STATE INSTITUTIONS 



141 




Asylum for the Incurable Insane, Hastings 



Nebraska Industrial Home. 



This institution was founded in the hope of 
reforming and protecting girls who have gone 
astray. It was established at Milford in 1888 
through the efforts of a few Nebraska women. 
After eight years under the management of 
benevolent women, it became a state institu- 
tion in 1897. Mrs. A. M. Edwards was the 
first Superintendent and in 1903 Margaret 
Kealy entered upon that office. Up to 1902 
over five hundred and fifty girls sought 



slielter in this Home, besides eighty-two 
women. The Horhe is kept up at an annual 
cost of about $10,000.00 and is partially main- 
tained by the income of the adjoining forty- 
acre farm. Inmates are kept for one year, 
in which time they are taught the common 
branches of study, housekeeping and plain 
sewing. In addition to these practical helps 
toward fitting them for useful lives, they re- 
ceive religious instruction. 



Nebraska State Penitentiary. 



This institution at present has about three 
hundred criminals confined within its walls. 
It is located three miles south of Lincoln and 
was established in 1869. A building which is 
now used as a stable constituted the State 
Penitentiary in early days. A great fire 
occurred in March of 1901, in which the main 
part and all of the cells were consumed. The 
damage was restored the following year, an 
elegant main building being erected. Tlie 



cost of rebuilding was $125,000.00. The 
building has been fitted out with an ample 
supply of new steel cells, so that now with 
one possible exception, the institution has the 
best cell accommodations in the United 
States. The female department also is far 
superior to those of other penitentiaries, and 
in almost all respects this is the best 
etjuipped institution in the country. Mr. A. 
n. Beemer is the present warden. 



142 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




CQ 



STATE INSTITUTIONS 



143 



The University of Nebraska. 

The first building now called University 
Hall, was completed in 18T1. the lumber and 
part of the brick being hauled from the Mis- 
souri River in wagons. The University of Ne- 
braska, at Lincoln, Nebraska, was founded by 
act of the Legislature in 18G9. The funds for 
the erection of the first building were provided 
by the sale of lots in the then new Capital City 
of Lincoln. With a faculty of five and ninety 
students the College of Literature. Science and 
the Arts was opened September G, ISTL E. 
Benjamin Andrews is the present Chancellor. 
Allen R. Benton was the first Chancellor and 
following him were, Edmund B. Fairfield, 
Henry E. Hitchcock (acting), Irving J. Ma- 
natt, Charles E. Bessey (acting), James H. 
Canfield, George E. MacLean, Charles E. Bes- 
sey (acting), and then the present incunil)ent. 
There are six members of the Board of Reg- 
ents, two elected every other year for a term 
of six years. The University comprises the 
Graduate School (degrees, master of arts and 
doctor of philosophy) ; the College of Litera- 
ture, Science and the Arts (degree, bachelor of 
arts) ; the Industrial College (degree, bachelor 
of science) ; this College including the School 
of Agriculture, the School of Mechanic Arts 
and the School of Domestic Science ; the Col- 
lege of Law (degree, bachelor of laws) ; the 
College of Medicine (degree, doctor of medi- 
cine) ; the School of Fine .\rts ; the School of 
Music, and the Summer Session. Resident 
students of Nebraska pay no tuition in the 
College of Literature, Science and the Arts 
and in the Industrial College. Non-resident 
students and all students in the professional 
schools and in the schools of fine arts and 
music, pay a small tuition. All departments 




^ :^^v 




lU 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



are open to both sexes on equal terms. A tax 
of one mill per dollar on the grand assessment 
roll of the state, together with interest in- 
come from land sales and land leases, are the 
chief sources of revenue. The University re- 
ceives the benefit of the Morrill Acts for the 
maintenance of instruction in branches relat- 
ing to agriculture and the mechanic arts, and 
of the Hatch Act, in aid of agricultural ex- 
periments. There are ten buildings on the 
city campus in which all the departments ex- 
cept the School of Agriculture, are conducted. 
The last two years work in the College of 
Medicine is given in Omaha. The libraries 
accessible to the students contain about 133,300 
volumes, of which 55,000 are in the University 
library itself. Five hundred periodicals are 



taken by the University. During the years 
3902 and 1903 the enrollment at the University 
was as follows : Graduate School, 123 ; Col- 
lege of Literature, Science and the Arts, 1,047; 
Industrial College, 673; College of Law, 182; 
College of Medicine, 138 ; School of Fine Arts, 
85 ; School of Music, 333 ; Summer Session, 
254 ; grand total, 2,835. From this 275 names 
have to be taken on account of repetition, 
leaving a total of 2,5G0. Nearly half were 
women, there being women in each depart- 
ment. The University is served by sixty-one 
professors, eight associate professors, fourteen 
assistant professors, seventeen adjunct profes- 
sors, three hundred thirty-five instructors and 
lecturers, and fortv assistants. 



State Fish 
The State Fisheries, which occupy fifty-two 
acres of land near South Bend, comprise the 
best State Fish Hatchery west of the Mis- 
sissippi. This institution was established in 
1879 and the first official board was composed 
of W. L. I\Iay of Fremont, B. E. B. Kennedy 
of Omaha, and C. H. Kaley of Red Cloud. 
The present Fish Commissioners are George 
L. Carter of North Platte, Chief Game 
warden; Emil Hunger of Lincoln, and Harry 
McConnell of Albion, traveling deputy war- 
dens ; W. J. O'Brien, Superintendent of Fish 
Hatcheries, and Governor Mickey, as ex-ofificio 
Commissioner. During the last eighteen 



Hatcheries. 

years, the fish product of this hatchery has 
averaged about 8,000,000 yearly. The annual 
appropriation is $3,850.00, and it is estimated 
that the State is greatly benefitted by her fish 
hatcheries. The State Fish Car which travels 
over Nebraska, is stocked with all kinds of 
fish. By means of this the streams, lakes and 
ponds are kept supplied with fish the year 
round. During 1901 and 1902 this car passed 
over a distance of 9,279 miles in its rounds of 
distribution. The fish industry is constantly 
growing and besides the well stocked public 
waters, there are many fish ponds and tanks 
under private ownership. 



Branch Soldiers and Sailors Home. 
This Home is located in Seward County, building and thirty-seven acres of land sur- 
near Milford, and is arranged to accommodate rounding it for the sum of $13,000.00. The 
one hundred persons. It was established in hospital connected with it was erected and 
1895 and for four years was maintained in a fitted out at a cost of $5,000.00. 
rented building, until the state purchased the 



STATE INSTITUTIONS 



145 







146 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Dairy Barn at the State Farm 
The Experiment Station and the School of Agriculture. 



This department of the State University is 
carried on at a distance of three miles from the 
college campus and the tract of land which it 
occupies is known as the State Farm. The 
present farm of three hundred and twenty 
acres was secured in 1874. During this year 
the first experiments were made in the grow- 
ing of sugar beets and mangel-wurzels ior 
feed, in tests of soils, in the feeding of pigs 
and the raising of blooded cattle. Sorghum 
sugar was made and grains and grasses were 
experimented with to some extent. The Ex- 
periment Station was not connected with the 
agricultural department until 1887, when, by 
an act of Congress, an annual appropriation of 
$15,000.00 was set aside for its maintenance. 
Dr. Charles E. Bessey, Dean of the Industrial 
College and Professor of Botany, was made 
the first I^irector of the Experiment Station. 
He was succeeded in 1889 by Dr. Lewis E. 
Hicks, the Professor of Geology, who was in 
turn succeeded the next year by Prof. H. H. 
Nicholson, Professor of Chemistry. In 189:1 



C. L. Ingersoll, Professor of Agriculture, be- 
came Director, and served until July 1, 1895. 
He was succeeded by the Chancellor of the 
LTniversity, George E. MacLean, who resigned 
in 1899. Prof. T. L. Lyon, the agriculturist, 
performed the duties of the office in the ca- 
pacity of Acting Director until Chancellor E. 
Benjamin Andrews became Director, October, 
1900, who resigned this position in July, 1901, 
and the present incumbent, Edgar A. Burnett, 
Professor of .\nimal Husbandry since 1899, 
was chosen Director of the Station. This sta- 
tion has directed more eflfort toward the under- 
standing of hog cholera and its preventatives 
than any other. Its investigation of the cause 
of cornstalk disease has also been very ex- 
haustive. In 1902, this station had the credit 
of the important discovery that prussic acid 
exists in sorghum, under fixed conditions. The 
state dairy industry has been greatly bene- 
fitted by the researches and scientific tests 
made by the institution. The School of Agri- 
culture was founded in 1895, with an attend- 



STATE IXSTITrTlOKS 



147 



ance of fifteen students, which, in I'.io-,'. liad in- ule. Aljout ninety-seven per cent of the seven 

creased to two hundred and six. The courses hundred and twenty-three students who have 

offered deal with theoretical and practical ag- taken courses in this department are now on 

riculture, dairying and correlating branches, Nebraska farms profiting by their study. At 

such as mathematics, botany, chemistry, phy- the last session of the legislature, $100,000.00 

sics and economics. In 1903, a course in judg- was granted for buildings and improvements. 
ing corn and live stock was added to the sched- 



State Normal School. 




Nebraska State Normal School, Perue 
The Nebraska State Normal School came 
into being with the public school system of 
the .State. It is located at Peru, a healthful 
location, free from the annoyances usual to 
the city or town. It has five large commodious 
buildings finely equipped with all modern con- 
veniences. The State Normal School had its 
beginning in the year ISGG as the "Mount 
Vernon College," a private school under the 
control of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 
The first term of this private school opened 
August 29, 1866, with thirty-eight students 
enrolled. The Principal, J. M. McKenzie, was 
the only teacher in this term. In August of 
the following year, the year in which Ne- 
braska became a State in the Union, the 



property of this College, sometimes spoken of 
as the "Peru Seminary." \vas turned over to 
the Board of Education of the State Normal 
School. The first term of the Nebraska State 
Normal School opened October 24, 1867, with 
three regular teachers, Mr. and Mrs. McKen- 
zie and Mr. P. M. Martin. Mr. McKenzie was 
Principal for four years and was followed in 
rapid succession by Mr. Straight, Mr. Wil- 
liams, General Morgan, Mr. Nichol, Mr.. Wil- 
son, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Thompson, and Dr. 
Curry, some of these gentlemen serving as Act- 
ing Principal for a few months only. No one 
served as Principal more than two years from 
Mr. McKenzie to Dr. Curry. Beginning with 
Dr. Curry in 1873, the tenure of ofifice has been 
somewhat more secure. Dr. Curry served six 
years; Dr. Farnham, ten years; Dr. Norton, 
three years: Dr. Beattie, four years; and Dr. 
Clarke, six years. J. W. Crabtree took up his 
work as Principal in 1904. The first building 
for the school, known as Mount Vernon Hall, 
was erected in 18G6 by a subscription from 
citizens amounting to $8,000.00. This was a 
brick building eighty feet long by forty feet 
wide, three stories high. The Legislature in 
1869 appropriated $10,000.00 for refitting this 
building and for current expenses of the school. 
Mount Vernon Hall was destroyed by fire in 



148 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



January, 18'JT, and was rebuilt in the same year 
as a modern dormitory with accomodations 
for ninety-fonr ladies. The north wing of 
Normal Hall (the main recitation building) 
was erected in 1ST2 at a cost of $28,000.00. 
This building was enlarged in 1885 by the 
large south wing, containing the present 
Chapel, the Laboratories, and additional reci- 
tation rooms, at a cost of $20,000.00. The 
Library building, a frame structure costing 
$15,000.00, was built in 1887 ; the heating and 
lighting plant was built in the same year. A 



good system of water supply was provided 
in 1896, which was completed by an eighty- 
foot steel standpipe in 1900. In the same year 
a large ice-house was built on the dormitory 
grounds ; and in the following year the green- 
house and the athletic field were added to the 
equipment by private subscription. The Legis- 
lature of 1903 appropriated $43,500.00 for a 
new Chapel and Gymnasium building. It also 
appropriated $50,000.00 for a second Normal 
School, which was located at Kearnev. 



Nebraska Institute for the Feeble Minded Youth. 



In this institution, of which A. Johnson, ^1. 
D.. is Superintendent, seven instructors are 
employed. It is located at Beatrice and was 
established by the State of Nebraska in 1885 
for feeble minded children between the ages 
of five and eighteen years, who are necessarily 
dependent. They are entitled to care and 
training free of charge, except the expense of 
clothing and transportation to and from their 



homes. Girls are instructed in all branches 
of domestic emplo3'ment, while the bo3-s re- 
ceive training in carpentering, farming, and 
other useful branches of employment. On 
Xovemlier 30, 1902, the number of inmates 
enrolled was three hundred and four. The 
Superintendent receives a salary of $2,500.00 
annuallv. 




Fording the North PlaUe 



MISCELLANEOUS AND ILLUSTRATIONS 



CHAPTER XII 



GOVERNORS OF NEBRASKA. 



DAVID BUTLER, first governor of the 
state of Nebraska, was born in the state of In- 
diana near Bloomington, Monroe County, De- 
cember, 1829. On the death of his father he 
assumed charge of a large family and an em- 
barrassed estate. He landed in Nebraska in 
1858, still a young man, and engaged in mer- 
cantile pursuits in Pawnee City and in rais- 
ing and dealing in live stock. Prior to his 
nomination for governor he had ser\-ed three 
years in the legislature. CJn the Fourth of July, 
1866 the first message of the first governor of 
the state of Nebraska was delivered to the leg- 
islature. Governor Butler, a republican, was 
elected in 1866 but did not enter upon the 
duties of the office until the admission of the 
state into the union. He served from February 
21, 1867 to March 4, 1871, when an article o'f 
impeachment was presented against him. 

ROBERT W. FURNAS is one of the men 
whose life histor)^ is inseparably interwoven 
with the development of his state, and the es- 
tablishment of its industrial greatness. He was 
born on a farm near Troy, Ohio, May 5, 1824. 
His parents were both Quakers from England. 
At the age of sixteen he learned the printers 
trade at Covington, Kentucky. He was mar- 
ried in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1845 to May E. 
Comas, and eight children were born to them. 
In 1856 he came to Brownville, this state, and 
edited the Nebraska Advertiser. He was a 
member of the council branch of the territorial 
legislature from 1857 to 1861. In 1861, under 
a special commission from President Lincoln, 
as colonel of the L^nited States Army, he re- 
cruited and commanded three regiments of In- 
dians in southern Kansas and the Indian ter- 
ritory, and served in the war of the borders 
in the southwest. Resigning from the regular 
service, he came to Nebraska witli a commis- 
sion from Jim Lane to recruit. He assisted 
in recruiting the Second Nebraska Cavalry, 
was by Gov. A. Saunders appointed its colonel, 
and served under General Sully against the 



northern Indians near the line of the British 
possessions. After being mustered out, he 
was appointed agent of the Omaha, Ponca, and 
Winnebago Indians. In 1872 he was elected 
governor of Nebraska. He has been president 
and is now secretary of the State Board of Ag- 
riculture, having held one of those offices since 
its organization. 

SILAS GARBER was thirty-seven years of 
age at the time he became a citizen of Ne- 
braska. He was born in Logan County, Ohio, 
in 1833. His education was principally ac- 
quired before reaching his seventeenth year; 
subsequent to which time he removed to Clay- 
ton County, Iowa. He served with distinc- 
tion all through the Civil War and spent four 
years in California. An early settler of Web- 
ster county, he represented Webster, Nuckolls 
and Jeflferson Counties in the Legislature and 
was also probate judge. For one year was 
Register of the United States Land Office at 
Lincoln, Nebraska and was then promoted to 
the governorship, assuming the duties of the 
office January 12, 1875. His term of office ex- 
pired fanuarv 9. 1879. 

ALBINUS NANCE was born in March, 
1848, at Lafayette, Stark County, Illinois. At 
the age of sixteen he was a soldier in the Civil 
War and passed through the war and was 
mustered out with his regiment. He studied 
at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, where the 
foundation for his professional life was estab- 
lished and where he was admitted to the bar 
in 1870. Soon thereafter he came to Nebras- 
ka and was in the State Legislature from 1874 
to 1878, serving as speaker of the house of 
representatives during his last term. In 1876 
he was chairman of the state delegation to the 
Republican National Convention at Cincinna- 
ti. From January 9, 1879 to January 4, 1883 
he occupied the gubernatorial chair. 

JA^IES W. DAWES, the fifth governor of 
Nebraska, was born at McConnellsville, Mor- 
gan Countv, Ohio. Januarv 8, 1845, where the 



150 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Governors of Nebraska. 

1. David'Butler 2. Robert W. Furnas. 3. Silas Gai ber. 4. Albinus Nance. 5. James M. Dawe.s. 6. John M. Thayer. 7. James E. 
Boyd. 8. Lorenzo Crounse. 9. Silas A. Holeomb. 10. William A. Poynter. II. Char cs H. Dcitrich. 13. Ezra Savage. 



NEBRASKA'S GOVERNORS 



151 



first eleven years of his life was spent. In 1S5G 
the family removed to New Port, Wisconsin, 
where he received a common school education 
supplemented with two terms in the prepara- 
tory department of Western Reserve College, 
Ohio, and a six months' course in a business 
college in Milwaukee. He read law while 
clerking in a store and in the office of John H. 
Dawes, and was admitted to the bar in Janu- 
ary, 1871. That same year he located at Crete, 
Nebraska and devoted himself to mercantile 
pursuits for six years. In 1877 he opened a 
law office. He was a member of a constitu- 
tional convention in 1875; in 187G a state' sen- 
ator from Saline County ; for six years chair- 
man of the Republican state central commit- 
tee ; from 1880 to 1884 he served as member 
of the national republican committee ; was a 
trustee and secretary of Doane college for sev- 
enteen years and served as governor from 
January'!, 1883 to January 6, 1887. 

JOHN M. THAYER settled in Omaha, Ne- 
braska, in the fall of 1854, a few months after 
the territorial organization. He was born in 
Bellingham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts, 
January 34, 1830. He possessed a good edu- 
cation and belonged to the legal profession. 
In 1857 and 1859 he was a candidate for con- 
gress and in 1860 was elected to the territorial 
council. In 1867 he entered the United 
States Senate for a term of four years and in 
1875 was appointed governor of Wyoming Ter- 
ritory. From 1861 to 1865 he was Colonel and 
Brigadier General of the United States Volun- 
teers. In 1886, was the Department Com- 
mander of the G. A. R. in Nebraska. As gover- 
nor, he entered upon his duties in January 1887 
and served four years in that capacity. 

JAMES E. BOYD was born in Tyrone, Ire- 
land, in 1834, whence he came to Ohio, in 1844, 
and thence to Nebraska in 1856. He superin- 
tended a store at Kearney for a time and as a 
railroad contractor graded three hundred miles 
of LTnion Pacific track. He returned to Oma- 
ha in 1868 and organized the Northwestern 
railroad to Blair, building it and acting as its 
president. He was also engaged in cattle 
grazing in western Nebraska and Wyoming. 
Since 1878 he has been banker and pork pack- 
er. He served as governor of Nebraska for 
one term. 1891 to 1893, having been elected by 
the Democrats. Before his election as gover- 
nor he had been a member of the first State 
Legislature in 1866 and of two dififerent con- 
stitutional conventions. He also served four 
years as Mayor of Omaha. 



LORENZO CROUNSE was born in Scho- 
harie County, New York, January, 1834. He 
was admitted to the bar in 1856 and was mar- 
ried in 1860. In 1861 he became Captain of 
Battery K, First New York Light Artillery 
and was wounded at Cedar Mountain in 1862 
and in the same year resigned and resumed 
practice till 1864, when he came to Rulo, Rich- 
ardson County, Nebraska. From 1873 to 1877 
he was a representative in congress and for 
six years prior to his election had been Associ- 
ate Justice of the .Supreme Court. In 1891 and 
1893 he was Assistant Secretary of the United 
States Treasury and January 13, 1893 delivered 
his inaugural address as governor of Ne- 

SILAS ALEXANDER HOLCOMB was 
born on a farm in Gibson County, Indiana, in 
1858. He worked on the farm in summer and at- 
tended district school in winter, and at the 
early age of seventeen began to teach school. 
His father died in 1878, leaving Silas at the 
head of the family, and in 1879, with the family 
he came to Hamilton County, Nebraska, where 
after working on the farm a year, he entered 
the law office of Thummel & Piatt, at Grand 
Island, to fit himself for the bar. After the 
usual two years reading he was admitted to 
practice, and in 1891 was elected Judge of the 
Twelfth Judicial District of Nebraska. In 1894 
he was elected Governor of Nebraska and re- 
elected in 1896. He was married in 1883 to 
Miss Martha Alice Brinson, of Cass County, 
and in 1883 they removed to Broken Bow, 
where he practiced law until his election to the 
district bench in 1891. 

WILLIAM A. POYNTER was born in 
1848 at Eureka, Illinois, where he received his 
education, graduating from Eureka College in 
1867. W. C. Poynter, his father, was a min- 
ister. At Eureka, Illinois, in 1869, Mr. Poyn- 
ter was married to Miss Maria McCorkle. 
They have one son. Dr. C. W. M. Poynter of 
Lincoln, Nebraska, and a daughter, Miss Jose- 
phine Poynter, a graduate of the Universit}' 
Conservatory of Music. He came to Nebraska 
from Illinois in 1878 and is at present a resi- 
dent of Lincoln. Mr. Poynter was a member 
of the Nebraska Legislature in 1885 and in 
1891, was President of the State Senate. He 
was Vice President of the Nebraska State 
Commission for the Trans-Mississippi Expo- 
sition in 1898 and that same year was elected 
Governor of Nebraska, serving one term. 

EZRA SAVAGE, the twelfth governor of 
Nebraska, was elected Lieutenant Governor in 



152 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



1900. Upon the resignation of Governor Diet- 
rich in March, 1001 to accept the United 
States Senatorship, Governor Savage assumed 
the duties of the chief executive of Nebraska. 
His native state is Indiana and the year of his 
birth is 1812. During the war of the Rebellion 
he served as soldier and scout under Generals 
Grant and Sherman. He was a member of 
the Seventeenth Nebraska Legislature and 
was the first Mayor of South Omaha. His term 
of office expired January 5, 1903. 

JOHN H. MICKEY, the thirteenth gover- 
nor of Nebraska, took the oath of office January 
5, 1903. He was born September 30, 1845 near 



Burlington, Iowa, and received his education 
in that state in the public schools and at the 
Iowa Wesleyan LTniversity at Mt. Pleasant, 
Iowa. He enlisted in Company D, Eighth Iowa 
Volunteer Cavalry in 18()3 and served until the 
close of the war. September, 1868 found him 
in Polk County, Nebraska, among the earliest 
settlers of the county. Since 1879 he has 
been engaged in banking and also has farming 
and ranching interests. For ten years he was 
treasurer of Polk County and in 1881 and 1883 
was a member of the House of Representatives 
in the State Legislature. 




State Officials 



Geo W. Marsh 
W. K. Fowler 



Peter Mortensen 



E G. McGilton 



Geo. D. Follmer 



Frank N, Prout 



Chas. Weston 



STATE OFFICERS. 



FRANK N. PROUT was born in New Jer- 
sey in 1852 and was educated in Illinois, where 
he practiced law for six years. In 1881 he 
came to Nebraska and located at Blue Springs 
where he was City Attorney for seven years. 
Then he removed to Beatrice, where he held 
the same position two years. In 1S98 he was 



elected Senator to the Nebraska State Legisla- 
ture and served on two committees. He is now 
serving his second term as Attorney General 
and his nomination in 190"-i was unanimous. 

CHARLES WESTON. Auditor of Public 
Accounts, was born July 4, 1853. When a boy 
he came to Illinois and graduated from the 



STATE OFFICERS. 



153 



University of Illinois in lyTG. After teaching 
school for two years he entered upon the study 
of law and was admitted to the bar in Illinois 
in 1879 and practiced for five years in Qiicago. 
After spending two years in \\'ashington Ter- 
ritory, he came to Nebraska in 1886, locating 
at Hay Springs, where he engaged in the mer- 
cantile and banking business, having been 
president of the Northwestern State Bank. In 
politics he has always been a Republican and 
was a regent of the State University from 1894 
to 1900. In 1900 he was elected State Auditor 
and re-elected in 1903. 

WILLIAM K. FOWLER, Superintendent 
of Public Instruction, was born in ISGl, in New 
Jersey of Scotch parentage. He graduated 
from the New York City public schools and 
entered the College of the City of New York 
sixth in rank out of nearly 1,200 applicants. In 
the spring of 1883 he came to Nebraska and lo- 
cated in Dodge County, where he began teach- 
ing school ; two years later he spent a year in 
study at Monmouth College, Illinois ; while yet 
twenty-one years of age he was Principal of 
Schools at Scribner, Nebraska and in 1888 vis- 
ited Europe, taking a special course in the 
L^niver.sity of Edinburgh. He was editor and 
publisher of the Scribner News and North 
Bend Argus for a short time and again as- 
sumed the position of Principal of Schools at 
Scribner for three years. He was then made 
Superintendent of the Blair City schools. In 
1889 he was married to Miss Ada Parker of 
Scribner and they have two sons and two 
daughters. Mr. Fowler was elected State Sup- 
erintendent in 1900 and was re-elected in 1902. 

PETER :\IORTENSEN, Treasurer of the 
State of Nebraska, is a native of Denmark, 
born October 8, 1844. He came to America in 
1870 and after remaining in Missouri for a 
short time, commenced farming in Valley 
County, Nebraska, in 1872. From 1875 to 1884 
he was County Treasurer of Valley County ; 
was assistant Cashier and then president of 
the First National bank, and one of the stock- 
holders in the \Voodberry Milling Company at 
Ord, Nebraska. He is an extensive real estate 



owner and gives much attention to agriculture 
and live stock. He was married in 1878 to 
Jennie Williams of Illinois, and has one son. 

GEORGE W. MARSH was born of Penn- 
sylvania Dutch parentage in 1852. At the time 
of his birth his parents were living in Alissouri 
and seven years later the family removed to 
Nebraska, being one of the early settlers of the 
state. He attended the State Normal School 
two years and taught school and farmed until 
1884. He served two terms as County Clerk 
and two terms as County Treasurer, after 
which he engaged in the mercantile business, 
which he disposed of and then became part 
owner and editor of the Falls City Journal. He 
is now serving his second term as Secretary 
of State, having been elected in 1900 and re- 
elected in 1902. 

GEORGE D. FOLLMER, having served his 
second term as Commissioner of Public Lands 
and Buildings of Nebraska, was one of the 
early settlers of Nuckolls County, having lo- 
cated there on a homestead in 1871, where he 
was engaged in farming and stock raising. He 
is largely interested in real estate. Pennsyl- 
vania is his birth place and the date 1844. He 
was elected to his first term in 1900 and re- 
elected in 1902. 

EDMUND G. M'GILTON was born in \\^is- 
consin, in 1859. He graduated from the Uni- 
versity of Wisconsin in 1S8:! and later graduat- 
ed from the law department of that institution. 
In 1888 he came to Omaha, Nebraska, where 
he has practiced law ever since. At first he was 
in partnership with H. P. Stoddard, later with 
Cavanaugh and Thomas, and then with Mc- 
Cabe and Elmer, after which he attended to 
his practice alone. He never held a city or 
county office until elected Lieutenant Gover- 
nor of Nebraska, which position he is holding 
at present. He was married in 1889 and has 
one daughter. His father was one of the 
pioneers of Wisconsin and his mother was de- 
sceufled from an old New England family, 
founded by Edmund Burke of Massachusetts, 
who was born about 1640. 



154 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Members of Congress frorn Nebraska 

Moses p. Kinkaid 

Geo. W. Norris 

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS FROM NEBRASKA 



E. J. Burkett 

Edmund H. Hinshaw 



C U. Hitchcock 
J. J. McCarthy 



MOSES P. KINKAID of O'Neill, a farmer's 
son, was born in Monongalia County, West 
Virginia. He spent his boyhood in that state, 
Pennsylvania and Illinois. He taught one year 
of school in the latter state ; is a graduate of 
the law school of the University of Michigan 
and was president of the class of 1876. He 
first practiced law in Henry County, 111., next 
at Pierre, South Dakota, one year; thence re- 
moving to Holt County, Nebraska, where he 
has resided for twenty-two years. In the ses- 
sion of 1883 he was elected to the Nebraska 
State Senate and made chairman of the judic- 
iary committee; was appointed judge of the 
district court in north Nebraska by Governor 
Thayer in 1887, and successively elected for 
three full four-year terms ; ran for justice of 
supreme court 1896; elected in his third suc- 
cessive candidacy for Congress in the Sixth 
Nel)raska district. He is a member of the re- 
publican party. 



EDMUND HOWARD HINSHAW of 
l-'airbury, was born at Gr^eersboro, Indiana, 
Dec. 8, 1860; lived on bis father's farm until 
he was sixteen and began teaching school and 
continued in that profession ten years. He 
attended college intermittently and in 1885 
graduated from Butler College, Indianapolis. 
In 1881 he was married to Ida Cooper of Cadiz, 
Indiana, and they have one son. The last year 
be taught school, he removed to Fairbury, Ne- 
braska, where he was superintendent of the 
]iublic schools. He declined a re-election, was 
admitted to the bar in 1887 and immediately 
began the practice of law. Mr. Hinshaw has 
licld various municipal and county offices, and 
in 1898 was nominated for Congress by the re- 
])ublicans. In 1903 he was renominated and 
elected. 

ELMER JACOB BURKETT of Lincoln, 
was born in Mills County. Iowa, Dec. 1. 1867. 
He attended public school and later Tabor Col- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



155 



lege, at Tabor, Iowa, from wliich institution he 
graduated in June, 1890. After his graduation 
he was elected principal of schools at Leigh, 
Nebraska, which position he held two years. 
In 1893 he received ihi- degree of LL. B. at 
the State University and in 1^9? an LL. MS.; 
was admitted to the bar at Lincoln in June, 
1893 and has practiced law there ever since ; 
was also elected trustee of his Alma Mater, 
Tabor College in 1895. In 1896 he was elected 
a member of the State Legislature ; was elected 
to the Fifty-sixth and Fifty-seventh Con- 
gresses and re-elected to the Fifty-eighth Con- 
gress. He is a Republican. 

GEORGE WILLIAM NORRIS of Mc- 
Cook, was born on a farm in Sanduskv County, 
Ohio, 'July 11, ISGl. His father died when Mr. 
Norris was a small child, and his mother was 
left in straitened circumstances. He was 
compelled to work out among the neighboring 
farmers by the day and month during the sum- 
mer and during the winter attended district 
school. He afterwards taught school and 
earned the money to defray expenses for a 
higher education; he attended Baldwin Uni- 
versity, Berea, Ohio, and the Northern Indiana 
Normal School, Valparaiso ; studied law while 
teaching and later finished a course in a law 
school; was admitted to the bar in 1883 but 
taught one year of school after that in order to 
purchase a law library. In 1885 he came to 
Nebraska and located in Furnas County ; while 
there was three times prosecuting attorney, 
twice by appointment and once by election, re- 
fusing a second nomination ; ^yas elected Dis- 
trict Judge of fourteenth district in 1895 and 
re-elected in 1899. He was married in 1890 to 
Pluma Lashley who died in March, 1901; was 
married again July 8, 1903 to Miss Ella Leon- 
ard of San Jose, California. He was elected 
to the Fifty-eighth Congress on the Republi- 
can ticket. 

GILBERT MONELL HITCHCOCK of 
Omaha, was born in that cfty on .September 
18. 1S59, and is the son of the late United 
States Senator, P. W. Hitchcock. His educa- 
tion began in the public schools of Omaha, was 
continued for two years in Baden Baden, Ger- 
many, and concluded at the law department of 
Michigan University, from which he gradu- 
ated in 1881 ; was then admitted to the bar, and 
practiced law for four years. In August of 
1885 he established and edited the Omaha 
Evening World which in 1889, purchased the 
Morning Herald and became the present 



Morning and Evening World-Herald. In 1883 
he married the eldest daughter of ex-Congress- 
man Crounse ; was elected to the Fifty-eighth 
Congress on the Democratic ticket. 

JOHN JAY McCarthy of Ponca, was 
born at Stoughton, Wisconsin, July 19, 1857 
and received his education in the common 
schools of \\'isconsin and in Albion Academy. 
He came to Nebraska in the fall of 1879 and 
in the fall of 1882 removed to Dixon County, 
where he has since resided. He was admitted 
to the bar in 1884 and has practiced law ever 
since. In 1890, 1892 and 1894 he was elected 
County Attorney of Dixon County ; was elect- 
ed Representative in the Nebraska Legisla- 
ture in 1898 and 1900; was elected to the 
I'ifty-eighth Congress and is a member of the 
Republican party. 

CHARLES HENRY DIETRICH of Hast- 
ings was born of German parentage at Aurora, 
Illinois, November 2G, 1853; removed to Dead- 
wood, South Dakota, in the winter of 1875 and 
1876; located at Hastings, Nebraska in 1878 
and engaged in mercantile business ; organized 
the German National Bank in 1887, of which 
he is now President. In 1900 he was elected 
Governor of Nebraska on the Republican 
ticket and in March of 1901 United States Sen- 
ator, to fill out the unexpired term of the late 
.Senator Hayward, succeeding W. V. Allen. 
He resigned the Governorship May 1, 1901 and 
took his seat in the United States .Senate, De- 
cember 2, 1901 ; his term of service will expire 
March 3, 1905. 

JOSEPH HOPKINS MILLARD of Oma- 
ha, was born in Hamilton County, Canada, 
.\pril 1836, the son of American parents. In 
childhood he removed with his parents to Iowa 
and at eighteen entered a Dubuque store as 
clerk ; two years later removed to Omaha, 
which has since been his home; engaged in the 
land business and later in banking, becoming 
a director of the Omaha National Bank in July 
1866, and on January 1. 1867, its President'and 
cashier, still retaining his place at the head of 
the institution. He served one year as Gov- 
ernment Director of the Union Pacific Rail- 
way Company and subsequently served the 
stockholders as one of their representatives on 
the board for a period of seven years. Mr. 
Millard is a widower with a grown son and 
(laughter. On March 28, 1901 he was elected, 
as a Republican, to the United States Senate, 
succeeding John M. Thurston, He took his 
seat December 2, 1901 and his term of service 
will expire March 3, 1907. 



156 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 






W. H. DA\^S. -^f- ^V. BURGESS. C. A. HEAjiTWKI.l.. W. A. JIT, IAN JOHN SNIDER. 




Adams Countv Court House 



ADAMS COUNTY. 



The first permanent settlers of Adams Coun- 
ty were Mortimer Kress and Jerome Fonts, 
who came shortly after 1865, and who, because 
of their varied experiences with Indians and 
pioneer life, are more familiarly known as 
"Wild Bill" and "California Joe." The Indians, 
however, were not especially troublesome to 
the early settlers at this time, although the 
Sioux, Cheyenne and Pawnee tribes were pres- 
ent in large numbers. There were so many 
white immigrations in 1870, that in 1871 the 
county boasted of twenty-nine voters. Adams 
County was organized in 1871 and Juniata was 
chosen as the county seat. The county has 



an elevation of eighteen hundred feet above 
the sea level, and its surface is almost entirely 
a rolling plain. The soil is especially fertile 
because of its loose, porous qualities, and is 
therefore among the better farm regions in the 
state. The county comprises an area of 5(54 
square miles, and there is little or no waste 
land to be found. The prices of lands range 
from twenty to fifty dollars, the best farm 
land selling for thirty-five to fifty dollars 
an acre. Adams County was early favored 
with railroad advanatges, and there are now 
eleven lines running through it. In 1870, the 
total population was 19, while in 1902 it num- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



is-i 



bored 18,840. The first county fair was held 
at Kingston on the Little Blue. Since that 
time these annual fairs have been held in dif- 
ferent localities, though Hastings has been the 
chief favored town. The first town was In- 
land, situated in the north and eastern part 
of the state, and founded in 1871. Its incep- 
tion was soon followed by Juniata and Has- 
tings in the same year. The early settlers were 
people of an educational spirit and culture and 
as a result, schools were naturally started. The 
first school was commenced in 1872 a little 
south of Juniata, with Miss Emma Leonard as 
teacher. Two years after the organization of 
the county there were 467 children of school 
age. and ten years later the number was in- 
creased to 3,275. In 1873 there were twenty- 
five school buildings, one of these being built 
of log. In 1903 the school census reported 7,- 
71G.'' 

\\'. H. DAA'IS, County Clerk, was born in 
Noble County, Ohio, December 13, 18.5.5. His 
ancestors were A\'^elch, who came to America 
several generations ago. When a boy he went 
with his parents to Humboldt, Illinois, where 
he spent his youth. In 1873 he removed to 
Larned, Kansas and fifteen years later settled 
in Hastings, He is a member of the Republi- 
can partv. 

JOHN S. LOGAN, a native of Illinois, born 
in Pike County, January 15. 1871. In 1885 he 
removed to Harlan County, Nebraska, and lat- 
er to Hastings. In 1889 he was Deputy County 
Treasurer of Harlan County. For eight years 
he was court reporter of the Tenth Judicial 
District and from 1900 to 1904 has been depu- 
ty County Attorney of Adams County. He is a 
worker in the Populist partv. 

'M. W. BURGESS was born in LaSalle 
County, Illinois, November 22, 1856, where he 
spent his boyhood and received his education. 
In 1889 he removed to Adams County, Ne- 
braska, living on a farm. After eight years res- 
idence in the county he was elected Register of 
Deeds on the Independent ticket and in 1901 
was re-elected, which position he now holds 

CHARLES E. BRUCKMAN, Clerk of the 
District Court, was born in Lowell, Indiana, 
March 28, 1877. When a small child his parents 
removed to Juniata, Nebraska and in 1903 he 
came to Ha!5tings. He is a graduate of the Uni- 
versity of Nebraska Law School and is asso- 



ciated with the Populist party. At his election 
he carried Juniata, his home town, by forty-one 
votes, where the regular republican majority is 
from fifty to sixty votes. 

C. A. HEARTWELL, who has been city 
Engineer of Hastings, and County Surveyor of 
Adams County for the last twelve years, is a 
native of New York, having been born in Gen- 
eva, December, 1857. In 1876 he removed to 
Des Moines, Iowa, and settled in Hastings in 
1883. His vocation is that of civil engineer. He 
was elected City Engineer and County Survey- 
or in 1891 and has remained in that position 
ever since. 

JOHN SNIDER, County Attorney, was 
born in Harden County, Iowa, September 12, 
1861. His parents were of American stock. 
He graduated from the University of Iowa 
Law School and removed to Nebraska in 1887, 
practicing law in Adams County. In 1900 he 
was elected County Attorney by the Populist 
party, which position he has since held. 

W. A. JULIAN, County Superintendent, 
was born in Henry County, Indiana, March 
12, 1857. In 1888 he came to Minden, Nebraska, 
where he filled the office of County Superin- 
tendent for five years. Then he came to 
Adams County, where he has engaged in pub- 
lic school work. He is associated with the 
Republican party and has been elected County 
Superintendent on that ticket. 

HARRY S. DUNCAN, County Judge, was 
born in Jasper County, Iowa, July 19, 1865 and 
in 1873 came to Adams County. In 1886 he 
graduated with honor from Doane college, 
Crete, Nebraska. In 1898, when the demand 
for volunteers for the Spanish-American war 
arose, he resigned his position as Coimty At- 
torney and enlisted in the Third Nebraska 
Regiment, where he rose to the rank of Major. 
In 1901 he was elected County Judge on the 
Democratic ticket and re-elected in 1903. 

C. H. WANZER, who has been the Chief of 
Police in Hastings for the past fifteen years, 
is from New York State, having been born in 
Pennsylvania February, 1853. Leaving New 
York he came to Nebraska and settled at Has- 
tings, where he engaged in farming. In 1889 
he was elected Chief of Police on the Republi- 
can ticket. He is one of the older citizens of 
the countv. 



158 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 
ANTELOPE COUNTY. 




S. I. N-.E5 



M. RICHARDSON. 



G, H. McGEE. 



E. E. BECKWITH. 



N. D. JACKSON. 




Antelope County Court House 

The naming of Antelope County has an his- 
torical setting. In 1871, while it was in pro- 
cess of organization, the Indians made a raid 
on some stock belonging to a settler. Leander 
Gerard, a member of the Senate, was one of the 
pursuing party. Their route lay through this 
county, and on the way one of the party killed 
an antelope. When Mr. Gerard returned he 
suggested the name "Antelope" for the new 
count}-, and so it was called. The county is 
situated in the north-eastern jjart of the state. 
It extends twcnt\--four miles from north to 



suuth, making an area of about eight hundred 
and sixt3f-four square miles. The land is roll- 
ing, with ranges of hills in the southern part. 
The elevations, for the most part, consist of 
gradual inclines, yet in some places the hills 
are too steep to be cultivated. However, their 
wealth of grasses makes up for this deficiency. 
The first election was held in the fall of 1871, 
at which two hundred and two votes were 
cast. Oakdale was chosen for county seat be- 
cause it was thought to be in the richest part 
of the county, and it was so named from 
its back ground of oak timber. The first per- 
manent settlements were made at Cedar Creek 
and "\\' est Cedar Valley, while the first postof- 
fice was established at Twin Grove. Settlement 
was greatly interfered with by the contest be- 
tween the Union Pacific Railroad and the Bur- 
lington and Missouri Railroad in regard to 
ownership of lands. This was also a great hin- 
drance to the building up of schools which de- 
pend upon taxes for maintenance. The grass- 
hopper pest in 1874 was also responsible for 
the slow progress of the county, in early times, 
settlement at Pleasant Valley being entirely 
broken up on account of this plague. Antelope 
county has an ine.xhaustive water supply, and 
its main river is the Elkhorn. There are many 
hard water springs, and the number of rivers 
and creeks gives power for many mills. Some 
remains have been found which indicate that 
the Mound Builders were the original inhabi- 
tants of this county. 

R. H. RICE is a native of Indiana, born in 
Elizabeth, August 25, 18G8. Here he was edu- 
cated in the common schools and removed to 
Nebraska in 1884. In 1902 he married Miss 
Nelle L. Staples and they have one daughter. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



159 



He is identified with the Populist party and is 
serving as Clerk of the District Court two 
terms. 

JAMES M. FINCH is a native of Illinois, 
having been born in Andover June -i, 1864. His 
parents removed to Iowa in 1867 and in 1871 
they homesteaded near the present site of Bell- 
wood, Nebraska, and settled in Antelope Coun- 
ty, about ten years later. He studied one year 
at Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, one year 
at Yankton College, South Dakota and gradu- 
ated from Gates College, Neligh in 1893. In 
1895 he married Miss Kate G. Nicol. He is 
Judge of Antelope County. 

J. M. RICHARDSON was born in Albia. 
Iowa. April 17, 1869. He attended the Cen- 
tral College, Centerville, Iowa, and after his 
removal to Nebraska, the Lincoln Normal and 
the State Normal at Peru, graduating in 1894. 
In 1873 he removed to \\'ebster County. Ne- 
braska, in 1887 toured the Southern States. 
then settled in Albia, Iowa and came to Nuck- 
olls County, Nebraska in 1893. Was principal 
of schools at Reynolds, Guide Rock and Oak- 
dale and is now County Superintendent of An- 
telope County, serving his second term on the 
Republican ticket. In 1897 he married Miss 
Gertrude M. Calder of Hardy, Nebraska. Mr. 
Richardson is President of the County .Super- 
intendent's organization of Nebraska. 

E. E. BECKWITH was born in Dodge 
County, Nebraska, July 3, 1871. Two years 
later his father homesteaded in Antelope Coun- 
ty and after residing for a time at Oakdale and 
Lincoln, Nebraska, settled in Neligh in 1894. 
He acquired his education in the Oakdale high 
school, the Fremont Normal and Yankton Col- 
lege, South Dakota. He was County Superin- 
tendent of Antelope County in 1897 and 1898, 
City Superintendent at Neligh from 1901 to 
1903, when he was elected County Clerk on the 
Republican ticket. In 1903 he married Miss 
Edith E. Best. 

S. D. THORNTON was born at Depuyster, 
New York, February 4, 1854, removing to Del- 
aware County, Iowa, in 1865. He came to An- 
telope County in 1873. After his graduation 
from the Delaware County high school, he read 
law and was admitted to the bar. In 1880 
he married Miss Florence Putney and has 
six children. Mr. Thornton is a member of the 
Republican party and has been County Judge 
,two terms and is now serving his seconH term 
as County Attorney. 



S. I. NIES was born in Dakota Count}', Ne- 
braska March 38, 1873. Five years later his 
])arents came to Antelope County. He attended 
the Omaha Commercial College and is a gradu- 
ate of Gates College, class of 1894. He engaged 
in teaching and in 1903 was appointed Deputy 
County Treasurer. In 1904 he was elected 
countv Treasurer on the Republican ticket. 

G. H. M'GEE was born in Dubuque County, 
Iowa, September 30, 1848 and was educated in 
the common schools and Cornell College. In 
1871 he came to Nebraska and settled in An- 
telope county. That same year he was elected 
Surveyor of Antelope county which position 
he held for ten years. He has been County 
.Supervisor six years and was in the State Leg- 
islature in 1896 and is now County Assessor. 
He was the first man to use water power in 
Antelope County, using it to operate a saw- 
mil! six years and a flouring mill fourteen. 

J. W. LAMSON, a native of Ohio, was born 
August 35, 1873. In 1877 he moved to Indiana 
and in 1880 his father took out a homestead in 
Antelope County. Mr. Lamson was raised on 
the farm and attended school at Gates Acad- 
emy, Fremont Normal and the Lincoln Busi- 
ness College. He is a member of the republican 
partv and is serving the Countv as Deputv 
Clerk. 

N. D. JACKSON was born at Bryant's 
Pond, Maine, May 18, 1854. After migrations to 
^Visconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska, 
the family took a homestead in Antelope Coun- 
ty in 1879. He is a graduate of Cedar Valley 
Seminary, Osage, Iowa, class of 1877, and of 
the Law School of the State University of 
Iowa, class of 1879. In 1883 he married Miss 
Flattie Bissell and they have three daughters 
and two sons, one of whom is serving in the 
United States Army in the Philippines. He is 
a republican and has filled the offices of Dis- 
trict Attorney and District Judge. 

J. F. BOYD is a native of Pennsylvania, 
born August 8, 1853. Ilis parents moved to 
Illinois, and in 1883 he came to Antelope 
County. He graduated from .^bington College, 
Kno.x county, Illinois and then studied law. 
He was admitted to the bar in 1878 and in 1881 
married Miss Mabel Ayres. Judge Boyd has 
served the public as County Attorney of Ante- 
lope County and later as Judge of the District 
Court in the Ninth Judicial District. He is now 
serving his second term. 

M. B. HUFFMAN was born in Washington 
County, Pennsylvania, July 38, 1853. In 1856 



160 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



his parents moved to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania 
and ten years later to Steubenville, Ohio, where 
he attended college. After completing his edu- 
cation he came to Antelope County, Nebraska, 
antl engaged in stock-raising. Mr. Huffman 



is a member of the Republican party and in 
1882 was elected Sheriff of Antelope County. 
He has been Mayor of Neligh for seven vears, 
which position he holds at present. 





MfRDOCK M'LEOD. V\'ILLI.ViI H. IXGl.ES. W. O. AKERS. 



W. S. McKEE. 



J. N. WY.ATT. 




J. M. WILSON 





A. J. snr.MWAV. 



Banner County Court House 
BANNER COUNTY. 



Banner County was organized in 1888 and 
has an area of 756 square miles. In 1902 the 
population was 1,114 and the county has no 
railways. It belongs to the western tier of 
counties and is bounded on the west by the 
Wyoming line. Harrisburg the county seat has 
one hundred and twenty-five inhabitants, while 
Heath is next with a population of forty-eight, 
and Kirk with thirty-six. The price of land 
ranges from $1.50 to $40.00 per acre. There 
are about 12.3 miles of irrigating ditches, chief- 



ly owned by private individuals. Stock- 
raising is the chief occupation, and much less 
farm land is cultivated than formerly. Owing 
to the advanced prices of live stock the demand 
for ranches has increased very considerably 
during the past five years. There is an abun- 
dance of good water in the county and the prin- 
cipal creeks are Pumpkin Seed and the 
Lawrence, in the very narrow valleys of which 
there is some fine alfalfa and pasture land. 
There is also some good farming land in the 



COUNTY HISTORY 



161 



county. Timber is found along the banks of the 
creeks. Three hundred and seventy-three acres 
are sown to alfalfa. 

A. S. ALEXANDER is a native of Massa- 
chusetts, born May 35, 1832. Educated in the 
public schools, he began travelling in his twen- 
tieth year. Between 1852 and 1S8G he lived in 
Rhode Island, New York, Illinois, Cincinnati, 
and Lincoln, St. Paul, Kearney, Kimball, and 
Banner County, Nebraska. He homesteaded in 
Banner County before its organization. He 
studied law at Blackstone, Massachusetts and 
in an office at Kimball, Nebraska, and was 
admitted to the bar in 1889. Independent in 
politics he has served three terms as County 
Superintendent and also three terms as County 
Attorney. 

J. N. WYATT was born December 3, 1876 in 
Clio, Iowa, from whence he came to Banner 
County, Nebraska, in 1888. He received his ed- 
ucation in the public schools at Lineville, Iowa, 
and Harrisburg, Nebraska. After coming to 
Banner County, he spent three years in Iowa, 
one year in Colorado and one year in the Phil- 
ipjiines, having enlisted in the First Colorado 
Volunteers. He was married to Miss Stella 
Downer of Harrisburg, Nebraska, in Decem- 
ber, 1903. Mr. Wyatt is a Democrat and is 
serving his first term as Comity Treasurer. 

AlURDOCK iMcLEOD is a native of Can- 
ada, having been born in Prince Edward Island 
April 22, 18GG, where he resided until his par- 
ents removed to Colfax county, Nebraska in 
1874. He received his education in the pub- 
lic schools and settled in Banner County in 
1887. He is engaged in the ranching business 
and is the clerk of Banner County, elected by 
the Populists. November IG, 1896 he was mar- 
ried to Miss Charlotte Turnbull of New Bruns- 
wick, Canada, and they have five children. 

WILLIAM H. INGLES is a native of Den- 
ny, Scotland, was born March 3, 18G2 and at 
fourteen set out to support himself. In 1868 his 
parents came to Midway, Pennsylvania, where 
he went to work in the coal mines and lost an 
arm. He has been in nearly e\-ery state west 
of the Mississippi and finally settled in what 
is now Banner Countv, where he took a home- 
stead in 1888. March' 15, 1887 he was married 
to Miss Edith Richards of Whatcheer, Iowa. 



lie has a one thousand acre ranch on which he 
lived until elected Sheriff of Banner County. 

W. O. AKERS was born in Magnolia, Iowa, 
May 28, 1874. When fifteen he went to Omaha, 
then to Colorado Springs, returned to Omaha 
in 1892 and then went to Chicago where he re- 
mained for four years. After living in Iowa and 
New Mexico he returned to Omaha and en- 
tered Creighton Medical College, graduating 
in 1902. He is a graduate of the high school at 
Magnolia, Iowa, and the Western Iowa Busi- 
ness College of Council Bluffs. He prcaticed 
medicine in Omaha and Florence for one year, 
then moved to Harrisburg and has been elect- 
ed Coroner of Banner Countv. He was married 
August 17, 1903 to Miss Elfreda Johnson of 
Tecumseh, Nebraska. 

W. S. M'KEE was born near Pittsburg, 
Pennsylvania, January 6, 1867, and when sev- 
enteen years of age removed to Iowa with his 
parents. In 1888 he came to Banner County, 
Nebraska, where he has since lived. That same 
year he married Miss Alura Sutton and they 
have one daughter. In 1889 he took a home- 
stead and has considerable ranching interests 
in the county. Fle has been elected Commis- 
sioner three terms on the republican ticket. 

A. J. SHUMWAY,. editor of the Banner 
County News, the only newspaper published 
in Banner County, was born in Oxford, Illi- 
nois, May 11, 1870. In 1887 he came to Banner 
County where he homesteaded. He took a 
course in a business college and also studied 
at Knox College, Illinois. He was married iu 
1896 to Miss Nettie McKennon-Rosenfclt of 
Harrisburg, Nebraska. He is a Republican, has 
been Justice of the Peace and is also an ab- 
stractor. 

J. M. WILSON is a native of Indiana, born 
in Tippecanoe County, October 18, 1863. When 
five years of age his parents moved to Cuming 
County, Nebraska, where his father took a 
homestead and Mr. Wilson received his educa- 
tion in the public schools. In 1887 he came 
to Chadron, two years later to Scott's Bluff 
County and in 1890 to Banner County. He is 
a druggist, was married to Miss Ruble Fitz- 
simmons in 1892 and they have three chil- 
dren. Mr. \\'ilson is afifiliated with the Demo- 
cratic party, and has served as County Treas- 
urer two terms. 



162 



COUNTY HISTORY. 







LOUISE PITT-EKICKSOX. C. J. FLETCHER. 



A. F. CARLSON. 



GEORGE O. SAWYER 




P. C. ERICKSON. 



Blaine Court House 

BLAINE COUNTY. 

Blaine County has thirty-three per cent of 
tillable surface. The soil is a dark, sandy 
loam from one to ten feet deep, with a sandy 
subsoil to water. Sixty-seven per cent of the 
surface embrace sand hills and good pastur- 
age. The valleys of the North and Middle 
Loup rivers can be successfully irrigated. Ir- 
can be effected at little 






H. C. cox. 



rigation from wells 
expense, as in most of the small valleys along 
the sand hills the water reaches close to the 
surface. The value of land has increased fif- 
teen per cent within the last five years. Rye, 
corn, and wheat yield profitable crops. Cher- 
ries, plums, grapes, strawberries, and other 
small fruits are raised. The principal timber 
is Cottonwood, box elder, and ash. The county 
was organized in 1886 with an area of 720 
square miles. The population in 1900 was 603, 
of which number Brewster, the county seat, 
has two hundred. Dunning, the only other 



town of any importance, has a population of 
fifty-five inhabitants. There are 18.4 miles of 
railway in the county. 

C. J. FLETCHER is serving his first term 
as Sheriff of Blaine County. He is the son of 
J. j\L Fletcher, who served in the 103d New 
York Volunteers during a period of two years. 
His parents were living in Van Buren County, 
Iowa, at the time of his birth on May 16, 1869. 
At three years of age he moved with his par- 
ents to Kansas, where he lived for six years. 
He came to Nebraska in 1884 and located at 
Brewster in 1885. He is a member of the Re- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



163 



publican party. Married Miss Laura M. Bar- 
ton in 1S97. 

H. C. COX came to Nebraska in 1882, his 
father, Charles B. W. Cox, being one of the 
first settlers in the county and a physician. 
He was born in Gordon, Texas, December 11, 
1881. He took a homestead in 1902 and an 
additional three quarters of land under the 
Kinkaid law. He is a ranchman and he and 
his father are in partnership in this business. 
He is serving his first term as County Clerk, 
having been elected on the Democratic ticket. 

MRS. LOUISE PITT-ERICKSON was 
born November 29, 1883 at Ulysses, Nebraska. 
She took homestead land at Brewster and lo- 
cated permanently there in 1902. She was 
educated at the Ulysses High School and is 
now serving her first term as Superintendent 
of Public Instruction in Blaine County, being 
elected on the Fusion ticket. She was married 
May 14, 1904 to Teder C. Erickson. Her par- 
ents, Mr. and Mrs. C. G. Pitt, came to Ne- 
braska in 1884 and Mrs. Pitt died in 1901. 

A. F. CARLSON is a native of Sweden, his 
parents having come to America when he was 
a small bo^^ They lived in Boone County, 
Iowa, for several years, settled at Oakland, 
Nebraska in 1883 and in Blaine County three 
years later. He was born August 9, 1871. He 
was County Clerk for four terms and is serv- 
ing his first term as County Treasurer. He is 
a ranchman and has a half interest in a drug 
business at Basalt, Colorado. He is a Repub- 
lican and was married December 1, 1897 to 
Miss Neva Cox of North Carolina. 

GEORGE O. SAWYER was born at Bethel, 
Maine, December 17, 1865. His father served 
in the Civil War four years, Fifth Maine Regi- 
ment, Company G, and was among the first 
settlers of this county. Mr. Sawyer has lived 
in Nebraska since 1879 and in Blaine County 
since 1895. He is in the general merchandise 
business. From 1885 to 1890 he was County 
Treasurer. In 1901 he was married to Marie 
B. Gardner and they have two children. His 
politics are Republican. 

P. C. ERICKSON came from his native 
country, Denmark, to the United States in 
1873 and took a homestead in Howard County, 
Nebraska. Fourteen years later he came to 
Blaine County, where he has since lived. He 



is in the banking and ranching business, hav- 
ing been cashier in the Brewster Bank. He is 
also publisher of the Brewster News which is 
the only newspaper published in Blaine 
County. The date of his birth was April 27, 
18G2 and his father died in 1897. For four 
years he was County Treasurer, having been 
elected by the Republican party. He has ex- 
tensive ranching and irrigation interests in 
the county. 

E. H. RIGGS was horn at Aroma, Illinois. 
November 7, 1859. In 1880 he went to Kan- 
sas, where he acted as telegraph operator for 
four years, until his coming to Nebraska. He 
was admitted to the bar in 1894 and has since 
been a practicing attorney at Brewster. He is 
also in partnership with Mr. Sawyer in the 
mercantile business. He studied law in an 
office at Brewster. He held the positions of 
County Clerk and County Attorney five years 
each, and was for four years Treasurer of 
Blaine County. He married Miss Molly L. 
Dill of this county in 1887 and they have one 
daughter. He is affiliated with the Republican 
party. 

E. D. OLDHAM is one of the oldest settlers 
in Blaine County, having located here six years 
after coming to Nebraska in 1877. He was 
born April 20, 1855 at Millhousen, Indiana. 
He lived in Illinois twelve years before he 
moved to this state. He was an assessor of 
Brown County and was Justice of the Peace in 
Blaine County, being Republican in his poli- 
tics. In 1885 he married Mrs. Elizabeth Bid- 
ding of Fairmont, Nebraska, and they have 
one son. 

C. E. VAN NESTE was bora in Ogle 
County, Illinois, July 6, 1855 and came to Ne- 
braska in November of 1884, when Blaine 
County was not yet organized. He attended 
the Methodist Seminary of Illinois and was 
graduated in the class of 1875. He home- 
steaded in 1884 and was assessor of Edith Pre- 
cinct for nine years and is Republican in poli- 
tics. He is a farmer by occupation and was 
the first man in Blaine County to raise peaches. 
He has an apple orchard which will yield 
seventy-five bushels this year, something be- 
fore unheard of in this county. He was mar- 
ried in 1881 to Sina M. Scott and they have 
one son. 



164 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 







C. M. PENNY 



F J. MACK 



O. E. WALTERS 



CHARLES RILEY 



9 




¥ 


f 



LORAN CLARK 





C. E. SPEAR. 



Boone County Court House. Photo by McGil 



BOONE COUNTY. 



In the spring of 1871 pre-emptions wertj 
made on tlie land whicli is now called Boont; 
County, and actual settlement resulted sooii 
after on the bank of the Beaver east of Albion. 
The blizzard of 1871 helped to keep back im- 
migration, and the two following summers 
were equally bad, the crops being entirely 
ruined by grasshoppers. The county was or- 
ganized in 1871. Its area is G92 square miles, 
over half of which fell to the railroads in ac- 
cordance with their grant of land. The growth 
of the county was at first greatly retarded be- 
cause the railroads withheld land, but when 
these lands were opened up for sale, rapid 
progress was made. Previous to the organiz- 



ation of the county, this had been the common 
tighting ground for the Sioux and Pawnees, 
yet the settlers had little cause to complain of 
the Indians. After much contention, Albion 
was chosen as county seat, and in the spring 
of 1872 the first postoffice came into existence, 
known as the Hammond Post Office. The 
mail was carried on horseback in the coat 
])ockets of the rider since the amount of county 
correspondence was so small. The first school 
was taught in 1872 by Miss Sarah Rice, and 
her salary for teaching the six scholars was 
$20. The lack of railroads for some years 
caused especial attention to be paid to the 
huilding of roads and bridges. | The financial 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



166 



resources of the new county were greatly de- 
pleted b)' the expense of bridges. A spring 
flood carried away several big bridges, and the 
cost of rebuilding brought a heavy debt upon 
the county. The principal rivers are Beaver 
Creek, Fox Creek and Cedar River. These 
waters, together with innumerable smaller 
creeks, aflford valleys which are very profitable 
for farming. 

C. M. PENNY was born in Tabor, Iowa, 
March 14, 1877. In 1888 he came to Newman 
Grove with his parents, and has lived in Boone 
County since that time, engaging in teaching 
after his graduation from the Boone County 
Normal and the Peru State Normal. He was 
elected on the People's Independent ticket to 
the office of County Superintendent. 

C. E. SPEAR was born in Alton, Illinois, 
April 12, 1851, in which state he lived until his 
nineteenth year, when he removed to Iowa, 
and then locating in Boone County, Nebraska, 
in 186G, where he has since resided. During 
that year he married Miss Addie Hoch and 
one year later was admitted to the bar. He 
is a Republican and has held various city po- 
sitions. He has served as County Superin- 
tendent for two terms, and also two terms as 
County Attorney. 

LORAN CLARK was born in Dane County, 
Wisconsin, July 23, 1864. In 1878 he came to 
Boone County. He obtained his education in 
the public schools of Wisconsin and Nebraska 
and took out his license as engineer at Cleve- 
land, Ohio. In 1888 he married Miss Myra 
Chappell. Mr. Clark is Republican in politics 
and has held various offices, having been Chief 
of Police in Albion three years. Water Com- 
missioner and is now serving his second term 
as Sheriff of Boone County. 

L. G. BRI.AN was brought up in Blairstown, 
Iowa, where he was born December 1, 18f)l. 
Soon after his graduation from high school he 
began farming, which occupation he continued 
after his location in Boone County, in 1887. 
In 1885 he married Miss Nellie Kelly. He is a 
member of the Republican party, having 
served his constituents in the capacity of 
County Commissioner from 1898 to 1901 and 
he has been elected to a second term as County 
Treasurer. 

G. H. BABBITT is a native of Illinois, hav- 
ing been born in Farmington, .A.pril 2, 1849. 



In his early manhood he removed to Iowa, and 
in 1880 located in Cass County, Nebraska, re- 
turning to Illinois the next year. Two years 
later he came again to Cass County, where he 
resided until 1895, when he came to Albion. 
He is identified with the Democratic party 
and has been elected County Clerk. In 1870 
he was married to Miss Hattie Gentle. 

F. J. MACK is a native of Ohio, having been 
born in Akron, March 26, 1865. His parents 
removed to New York and later to Erie, Penn- 
sylvania. When a young man he came to Ne- 
braska, becoming a resident of Albion in 1890. 
There he studied law and six years later was 
admitted to the bar. He has been City Clerk, 
Treasurer and Mayor of Albion, as well as 
Clerk of the District Court. In 1897 he was 
married to Miss Etta Roberts. 

CHARLES RILEY was born in Hender- 
son, Illinois, February 10, 1848, and when but 
fifteen years of age joined Company G, 112th 
Illinois, and served with them until he was 
wounded at the battle of Kenesaw Mountain. 
After the war he prepared for the Illinois Sol- 
diers' College from which he graduated in 
1871, teaching during the next seventeen years. 
In 1888 he came to Albion, Nebraska, where 
he was admitted to the bar. He married Miss 
Harriet Dickinson in 1873. Mr. Riley is a Re- 
publican and has held the office of County 
Judge for two terms. 

H. I. BERG was born in Norway, April 9, 
1857. In 1873 he came to Stanton County and 
two years later to Boone County, where he 
took a homestead. He was educated in the 
schools of Norway and Santon County. After 
he finished his schooling, he took up farming. 
In 1878 he married Miss Knutson. He is a 
member of the Republican party and has been 
School Director, Precinct Assessor, Census 
Enumerator and County Commissioner, which 
office he now holds. 

O. E. WALTERS was born in Brooklyn. 
New York, February 9, 1857. In 1875 he re- 
moved to Waterloo, Iowa, and four years later 
settled in Boone County, Nebraska. He was 
in the real estate business for ten years, later 
engaging in newspaper work, being now pro- 
prietor of the "Index" of Petersburg, Boone 
County. He is a graduate of the Brooklyn 
High School. In 1885 he married Miss Cora 
E. Martin. He is connected with the People's 
Independent party and is now serving as 
l)ei)utv Clerk. 



166 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




IRA REED. C. W. BRENNAN. JOHN P. HAZARD J. W. WEHN. W. H. BARTZ. 




M. SMYSEi: 





A. S. REED. 



Box Butte County Court House 







D. K. Si'.Av i.'l 



I,. AV. BOW.MAX 



LE<i|;A ItL'STIN. 



GEORGK W. LOER. 



BOX BUTTE COUNTY. 



Box Butte County, with an area of 1,080 population of 2,535; Hemingford, a population 
square miles, was organized in 1887. Its pop- of 133. The surface of Box Butte County em- 
ulation in 1900 was 5,572 and has 49.4 miles braces about seventy-five per cent of tillable 
of railway. Alliance, the county seat, has a laud, about twenty-five being sand hills, much 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



167 



of which is valuable for pasturage. The soil 
in the north half of the county is chiefly a 
black, sandy loam from one to five feet in 
depth, and in the south half a light, sandy 
loam from six inches to two feet in depth. 
The subsoil is a finely broken magnesia lime- 
stone, there being clay and sand in some parts. 
Wells are from twelve to two hundred and 
fifty feet in depth, and the supply of water is 
abundant. Stock raising is carried on ex- 
tensively. The value of land has increased 
twenty-five per cent during the past five years. 
There are two flouring and grist mills and five 
brick-yards are operated. Potatoes, millet, 
corn and rye are the chief crops raised in the 
county. Alfalfa is successfully produced. The 
first settlement in Box Butte Coumty was 
made by John S. Hughes in 1879 on the Nio- 
brara river. Between the years 1879 and 1884 
the county was just one large cattle range, 
and in 1885 and 1886 settler poured in and 
nearly every quarter section of available land 
was taken. 

C. W. BRENNAN was born February 23, 
1873 at Bay City, Michigan, where he received 
his education in the St. James Parochial 
School. In 1888 he removed with his parents 
to Lincoln, Nebraska and the next year to Al- 
liance. He took a homestead in Deuel County 
in 1895 and later began railroading. He is 
now engaged in the drug business with his 
brother. Mr. Brennan is a member of the 
Democratic party and is serving his first term 
as Treasurer of Box Butte County. 

S. M. SMYSER was born September 1, 
1852 in Moultrie County, Illinois. He taught 
school from 1869 to 1874, read law in an office 
at Sullivan, Illinois, and was admitted to the 
bar in 1877, practicing his profession until 
1894. He then entered the government land 
office at Alliance, Nebraska as clerk, remain- 
ing there for five and a half years, when he 
was elected Clerk of Box Butte County. Mr. 
Smyser has held various other ]iositions. 

D. K. SPACHT is a native of Pennslyavnia, 
born July 16, 1852 in Berks County. He was 
educated in an Academy and the Keystone 
State Normal. He came to Seward County, 
Nebraska in 1882 and in 1888 located in Box 
Butte County. He was engaged in clerical 
work, taught school, was cashier in a bank, 
was Deputy County Clerk of Box Butte 
County before he was elected Judge. Mr. 
Spacht was elected on the Independent ticket 
and is serving his fifth term. 



LEORA RUSTIN was born in Aledo, Illi- 
nois, February 6, 1871. Her parents came to 
Creston, Iowa and then to Omaha, Nebraska 
when she was yet a child. She was educated 
in the Omaha High School and the Peru Nor- 
mal and was married to W. G. Rustin of 
Omaha. They located at Alliance, but Mr. 
Rustin died in 1890, leaving her with a family 
of two daughters. She taught in the Box 
lUitte County schools until elected as a teacher 
in the Alliance schools. Mrs. Rustin is serving 
her first term as Superintendent of Box Butte 
County. 

WILLIAM MITCHELL is a native of 
Pennsylvania, born in Newport, October 17, 
1861, where he graduated from LaFayette Col- 
lege in 1885. He studied law and was admit- 
ted to the bar in 1887 and settled at Alliance 
in 188^. He is affiliated with the Democratic 
party and is serving his second term as County 
Attorney. 

IRA REED was born in Seven Points, 
Pennsylvania, August 24, 1859. In 1883 he 
removed to Boone, Iowa. He was educated 
in the public cshools and the Academy at Elys- 
burg, Pennsylvania. In 1884 he came to Su- 
perior, Nebraska and in 1886 settled in Box 
Butte County. Mr. Reed is serving his second 
term as Sherifif of Box Butte County and is a 
member of the Populist party. 

JOHN P. HAZARD was born in Bone 
County, Indiana, June 17, 1850 and there be- 
came a surveyor and civil engineer. He came 
to Ainsworth, Nebraska in 1882 and home- 
steaded in Box Butte County in 1884. He is 
independent in politics and was Justice of the 
Peace for twelve years. He is now serving 
his third term as County Surveyor and second 
term as City Engineer of Alliance. He is also 
Attorne}^ for the United States Land Office 
at Alliance. 

A. S. REED was born August 19, 1853 in 
Chenango County, New York. He was edu- 
cated in the district schools and New Berlin 
Academy. He removed to Walworth County, 
Wisconsin in 1875 and came to Chicosaw 
County, Iowa the same year. He moved to 
.Siou.x City, Iowa in 1882 and in 1885 came to 
Nebraska. He is Vice President of the First 
National Bank of Alliance and has been 
Treasurer of Box Butte County. He was on 
the first Board of County Commissioners and 
is the first assessor of Box Butte County. 

J. W. WEHN is a native of Pennsylvania, 
having been born in Johnstown, .\ugust 21. 



168 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



1849. He was educated in the public schools 
of Johnstown and in the Commercial College 
at Pittsburg, and came to Nebraska in 1867. 
He established the first Democratic paper 
south of the Platte and west of the ^lissouri 
river towns, in 187-i. Mr. Wehn is engaged 
in banking and was Register of the Land 
Ofifice at Alliance from 189-i to 1898, having 
been appointed by President Cleveland. He 
is one of the County Commissioners. 

GEORGE W. LOER was born in Henry 
County, Indiana. January 9, 1847. He re- 
ceived" his education in the common schools 
and served for over one year in Company P> 
of the Thirty-third Indiana Infantry during 
the Civil War. From Indiana he went to 
Iowa and settled in Nebraska in 1887. He was 
a member of the Board of County Supervisors 
of Kearney County and has been County Com- 
missioner of Box Butte County for five years. 
He is a member of the Populist party. 

JAMES KEELER was born August 15, 
1869 in Syracuse, New York. In 1887 the 
family removed to Colorado and before settling 
at Alliance had lived in Sheridan County, Ne- 
braska and the Black Hills. His father home- 
steaded in Sheridan County in 1894 and is still 
living there. Mr. Keeler took a homestead in 



Sheridan County in 1896. He is a liveryman 
and is the Deputy Sheriff of Box Butte 
County. 

L. W. BOWMAN is a native of Indiana, 
born in Thornton, July 28, 1858 and ten years 
later his parents moved to eastern Nebraska. 
Educated at Stanton, Nebraska, he graduated 
from the medical department of the Iowa 
State LTniversity in 1886. Locating at Hay 
Springs, Nebraska until 1895, he then came to 
Alliance. He took a post-graduate course in 
Chicago in 1900. Mr. Bowman is Mayor of 
Alliance. 

W. H. BARTZ is a Pehnsylvanian, having 
been born February 29, 1856 in Pittsburg. His 
parents moved to Mercer County, Pennsyl- 
vania in 1861, where he attended the State 
Normal and Grove City College, receiving the 
degree of A. B. from both of the institutions. 
He was married in 1879 to Miss Jennie S. Foy 
of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, to whom 
was born one daughter. On account of poor 
health, Mr. Bartz travelled in Michigan and 
Missouri. He has been Principal of the Brad- 
shaw, Grafton and Ravenna schools and four 
years ago was chosen Principal of the Alliance 
schools. He is now Principal of the Junior 
State Normal located at Alliance. 



BROWN COUNTY. 



Seventy per cent of the surface of Brown 
county is' untillable, chiefly on account of sand 
and the rough lands bordering on the creeks. 
The tillable soil, which is a dark, sandy loam 
from two to five feet in depth, comprises the 
remaining thirty per cent of the land surface. 
The scenery in the northern part of the county 
is somewhat celebrated. Good drainage is fur- 
nished by the Niobrara, and its tributaries, the 
Long Pine, Sand, Bone and Plum Creeks, and 
by the Calamus river; there are several lakes 
in the section, of which Moon lake is the larg- 
est. Flowing wells from fifty to one hundred 
and fifty feet in depth are numerous ; other 
wells are from ten to two hundred feet 
in depth and there is an inexhaustible 
supply of water. Small grain and po- 
tatoes are the principal farm products, and 
hardy apples and all kinds of small fruits do 
well. Cattle and sheep are fed on the range. 
The value of land has increased fifty per cent 
since 1897 and sells at from $2.00 to $15.00 per 
acre. The county was organized in 188.3 and 
has an area of 1,061 square miles. The county 



seat is Ainsworth and it has a population of 
605 inhabitants. Long Pine and Johnstown are 
the only other towns of any importance. Long 
Pine has 486 inhabitants and Johnstown has 
120. The population of the county numbers 
3,470. There are six flouring and grist mills 
in the county and it has 28.59 miles of railway. 

JOHN LAMPERT is a native of Black 
Creek, Wisconsin, born March 27, 1869. In 
1885 he came to Cedar BlufTs, Nebraska, is a 
graduate of the Fremont Normal College and 
engaged in farming in Brown County in 1893, 
where he has since lived with the exception of 
two years spent on the coast. In 1894 he mar- 
ried Miss Grace Castleman and they have one 
daughter. He has been elected Sheriff on the 
Republican ticket. 

WILLIAM M. ELY was born in Marion, 
New York, September 21, 1875 and came to 
Nebraska with his parents when fifteen years 
old. He is a graduate of the University of 
Nebraska, class of 1900, having taken both 
the Academic and Law Courses. He has been 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



169 






p. W. MURPHY. JOHN SULLIVAN. CH.-VP.LES O. MURPHY. C. B. GOODSPEED. E. B. SMITH. 




WM. M. ELY. 





JOHN I.AMPERT. 



Brown County Cou:t House 



County Judge, Justice of the Peace antl County 
Attorney. His father was a candidate for 
State Regent of the University of Nebraska 
in 1899. 

C. B. GOODSPEED was born in Joliet, 
Illinois, August 24, 18G5. His parents came 
to Cass County, Nebraska in 18G7 and then 
lived in Saunders and Dodge Counties. In 
1897 he came to Brown County. Both his 
father and mother were old settlers and after 
his father had made his filing, the Indians 
raided the territory where his homestead lay 
and carried off three families and killed several 
people. Mr. Goodspeed graduated from the 
Fremont high school with the class of 1887 
and has pursued the profession of teaching, 
having been Assistant Superintendent of 
Dodge County for three terms and twice 



elected County Superintendent of Brown 
Countv on the Republican ticket. 

CHARLES O. MURPHY was born June 2, 
1873 on a ranch located where David City now 
stands. His father built the first house in that 
region, having come to Nebraska in 1869. 
When eleven years of age his parents moved 
to Brown County and Mr. Murphy was em- 
ployed for nine years as agent and operator for 
the Northwestern Railroad. He took a home- 
stead in Brown County in 1901 and that same 
year married Miss Margaret Aibler. He is 
affiliated with the Democratic party and has 
served two terms as Deputy County Treasurer 
and has been elected Treasurer. 

E. B. SMITH was born in Waukegan, Illi- 
nois, June 27, 18.55 and studied at Northwest- 
ern I'niversity and Illinois State University. 



170 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



He came to Fillmore County, Nebraska in 
1878, then returned to Illinois, where he mar- 
ried Miss Elva L. Harvey in 1879. Returning 
to Nebraska for a short time he returned io 
Illinois for a second time. In 1883 he located 
in Brown County. Mr. Smith is a member of 
the Republican party and is now serving his 
fifth term as Clerk of Brown County. 

O. L. RAMSEY was born October 24, 1852 
at LaSalle, Illinois, and is a graduate of 
Wheaton College. In 1870 he went to West- 
ern Kansas and in 1881 went to Colorado, 
where he served as a Methodist minister at 
Denver. After serving several charges in 
Wyoming and Northwestern Nebraska he set- 
tled at Ainsworth, Nebraska, his present home. 
He was married to Miss B. V. Mayes of Den- 
ver, Colorado in 1878. He is associated with 
the Republican party and is at present the 
Judge of Brown County. 

TALBOT B. ALDERMAN was born De- 
cember 23, 1850 in Oakfield Center, Wisconsin. 
He began surveying out timber lands for a 
lumber firm in Kerby County, Michigan in 
1870 and 1871, but by trade he is a carpentci- 
He is employed by the Beatrice Creamery 
Company as station operator. He went to 
North Dakota in 1881 and settled in Brown 
County, Nebraska in 1883. Mr. Alderman is 
serving his second term as Surveyor of Brown 
County and has been a road supervisor both 
in Wisconsin and Nebraska. 



JOHN SULLIVAN was born in Ypsilanti, 
Michigan, February 12, 1843, later removing 
to Rochester, New York. When the Civil 
War broke out, he enlisted in the Second New 
York, Company L, and served through the 
war. In 1867 he migrated to Iowa and two 
years later to Seward County, Nebraska. In 
1880 he moved to what is now Keya Paha 
County and four years later located perma- 
nently in Brown County. He has been Sheriff 
of Seward County and Sheriff, County Com- 
missioner and Assessor of Brown County, hav- 
ing been elected on the Republican ticket. 

P. W. MURPHY was born in David City, 
Nebraska, January 4, 1876. In his sixth year 
his parents removed to Blaine County and two 
years later to Brown County, his present home, 
in 1902 he married Miss Edith Heck of Long 
Pine. He is a member of the Democratic party 
and has served the county as Treasurer for 
two terms and also as Deputy Treasurer. 

J. H. SALZMAN was born in Germany, 
January 31, 1859. His parents came to the 
United States in 1861 and in his twenty-fourth 
year he located in Madison County, took a 
liomestead in Cherry County the next year, 
and came to Brown County in 1899. In 1894 
he married Miss Anthone Schlueter and has 
five children. He is a member of the Republi- 
can party and is County Commissioner. Mr. 
Salzman has a ranch of 680 acres in Brown 
County and one of 1,720 acres in Cherry 
Count V. well stocked with cattle. 



BUFFALO COUNTY. 



Buffalo County served as a hunting and 
fighting ground for the Sioux and Pawnees. 
The first white inhabitants were Mormons. 
who settled on Wood River in 1858, and this 
settlement formed a general stopping place for 
Mormons on their way to Utah. It was also 
on the old emigrant road to Pike's Peak and 
California. The passing daily of several hun- 
dred wagons made this settlement quite a 
business center. Traffic was stopped for a 
time, however, at the outbreak of the war be- 
tween the Cheyennes and the Sioux, and all 
but two of the ranchmen fled to Omaha and 
other points on the Missouri. Buffalo County, 
with an area of 864 square miles, and a popu- 
lation of 20,354, is located in the central part of 
Nebraska on the north side of the Platte. The 
Platte, South Loup and Wood Rivers drain 
this section. Beside these, manv other streams 



cross this county, furnishing ample power for 
flower and grist mills. There are two bridges 
across the Platte, each nearly a mile in length. 
Considerable timber borders the streams which 
is more decorative than useful. The cereals 
are largely cultivated and alfalfa is especially 
abundant. The price of land varies from six 
to forty dollars an acre. The Union Pacific 
Railroad passed through the county four years 
before it was organized. Fort Kearney was 
the first town. Gibbon was the next town to 
l)c founded. It was laid out in 1871 by a colony 
from Ohio, consisting of eighty-five families. 
This town became very influential and the 
county seat was moved from Kearne)' to Gib- 
bon. In the years of 1873 and 1874 the expir- 
ation of a financial boom plunged the county 
into heavy indebtedness. The State Reform 
School is located two miles west of Kearney. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



171 







w. H. noiz. 



T. G. SPENCER, 



T.OG.'-N SAMMONS. 



F. M. HAl I OV'li- 







C. .\. EinV.\?U:F 



T. N. HARTZELJ., 



GEORGE A. NIXON. 



CHARLES B. FINCH 



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Buffalo County Court House 

M. N. TROUPE was born in Washington 
County, Maryland, June '31, 1854, of German 
parentage. In 1878 he came to Lincohi, Ne- 
braska and later went to Iowa. He returned 
to Nebraska and settled in Buffalo County in 
1884. He has been a farmer and stock-raiser 
for the past twenty years, and is very well 
known. As a member of the Republican party 



he was elected to his first term as County 
Treasurer of Buffalo County in 1903. 

N. P. McDonald was bom at Columbus, 
Pennsylvania, November 6, 1862. He came 
to Kansas in 188G and a year later settled in 
Nebraska, where he taught school for two 
years and later read law. He obtained his 
education at Otterbien University, Ohio. He 
is of the Republican faith, and served as 
County Superintendent from 1889 to 1893. In 
1000 he was elected County Attorney and is 
still the incumbent of that office. 

T. N. HARTZELL was born in Hennepin, 
Illinois, May 31, 1846. Pie removed to Chi- 
cago with his parents in 1848, to Waukegan, 
Illinois in 18.55, to Aurora, Nebraska in 1869 
and settled at Kearney in 1879, engaging in the 
mercantile business. He is a graduate of Lake 
Forest University and received his A. M. from 
.\mherst. He is affiliated with the Republican 
party and has held various positions of trust, 
liaving been County Superintendent from 1884 
to 1888, Secretary of School Board from 1888 
lo 1892, County Assessor in 1900 and was re- 
elected County Superintendent in 1901. 



i-Ta 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



LOGAN SA^mONS was born in Ohio, 
May 13, 1867. In 1872 he came to Buffalo 
County with his parents, where he has since 
resided, engaging in farming. He is a gradu- 
ate of the Kearney high school and has taught 
in the Kearney Reform School. He is asso- 
ciated with the Republican party and was 
elected Sheriff in 1901, having served as Dep- 
uty Sheriff four years prior to his election. 

A. V. OFFILL was born August 4, 1876. In 
1881 his parents located at Tecumseh, and in 
1893 settled at Kearney, engaging in the stock- 
raising industry. He obtained his education in 
the Tecumseh high school and the Kearney 
Business College. He is a member of the Re- 
publican party and is serving his third term as 
County Clerk. 

T. G. SPENCER was born in Woodford, 
Illinois, July 10, 1856. He came to Buffnlo 
County in 1883, engaging in the farming and 
stock-raising industry, and later on, in bank- 
ing. He is a Republican and has been elected 
County Register of Deeds on that ticket. 

F. M. HALLOWELL was born in Augusta, 
Maine, November 12, 1852. In 1877 he came 
to Kearney, where he has since made his home. 
He is a graduate of Farmington Normal Col- 
lege and Colby University, Waterville, Maine. 
He has been Court Reporter for fifteen years 
and has been a member of the Board of Edu- 
cation. He is a member of the Republican 
party and is the Judge of Buffalo County. 

GEORGE A. "NIXON was born in Phila- 
delphia, Pennsylvania, December 20, 1867. In 
1883 he moved to Gibbon, Nebraska and lo- 
cated at Kearney, January 4, 1900. He re- 
ceived his education in the Philadelphia public 
schools. Mr. Nixon is a member of the Peo- 
ple's Independent party and has been elected 
Clerk of the District Court on that ticket. 

C. A. EDWARDS. City Engineer of Kear- 
ney and Surveyor of Buffalo County, was born 
November 17,' 1859 in Moline, Illinois. He 
came to Dawson County, Nebraska and in 
1885 took a homestead. He lived at Lexing- 
ton for a time, then went to Gothenburg, where 
he had charge of the surveying and was at 
that time the manager of the Gothenburg Irri- 
gation Ditch, and came to Kearney in 1902. 
He took a college course at Valparaiso, Indi- 
ana. Mr. Edwards was Surveyor of Dawson 
County for eight years. 

A. H. MORRIS was born in Spring Brook, 
New York, September 21, 1856. In 1878 he 
came to Papillion, Nebraska and in 1887 set- 



tled at Shelton, his present home, engaging in 
the drug business. He is affiliated with the 
Republican party and has been elected County 
Assessor on that ticket. 

J. W. SHAHAN was born in Kingwood, 
West Virginia, November 10. 1848. In 1878 
he came to Buffalo county, Nebraska, his pres- 
ent home and engaged in farming. In 1887 
he became County Clerk, having been Deputy 
Clerk previously, and again served in the same 
capacity from 1897 to 1899. He is a member 
of the Republican party and was appointed 
Deputv Countv Treasurer in 1904. 

O. F. HAIM'ILTON Nvas born June 8, 1845 
in Portage County, Ohio. He served in Com- 
pany H of the Tenth Ohio Cavalry during the 
Civil War. He then joined the Eighteenth 
United States Infantry of the Regular Army, 
remaining in the service three years longer 
and was wounded at Phil Kearney, Dakota, in 
the campaign against the Indians. He was 
one of the early settlers of Buffalo County, 
having filed the first soldier's homestead in 
Armada Township in 1873. He moved to 
Mullen, Nebraska in 1904. He laid out the 
town of Armada and was Postmaster from 
1885 to 1889. Mr. Hamilton studied law at 
Kearney and was admitted to the bar at New- 
kirk, Oklahoma and has practiced law since. 

CHARLES B. FINCH, ex-mayor and one 
of the leading merchants of Kearney, Ne- 
braska, was born in Dallas City, Hancock 
County. Illinois, December 25. 1848. He was 
educated in the Academy at Denmark, Iowa 
antl the Bryant & Stratton Business College 
of Chicago. In July of 1879, Mr. Finch came 
to Kearney and was Mayor of Kearney for 
three years during the time of the boom. He 
used to sell goods to the cow-boj's when he 
carried a gun in one hand and a pencil in the 
other. His father was the first and only mer- 
chant to open up a general stock of goods 
among the Mormons in Nauvoo, Illinois. Mr. 
Finch is a 33d degree Mason and the Grand 
Commander of the Knight Templars of Ne- 
braska. 

W. H. ROE. now serving his second term 
as mayor of Kearney, Nebraska, was born in 
Berrian, Michigan, January 2, 1849. His par- 
ents moved to Delaware County, Iowa in 1851, 
remaining there until 1863, when they went to 
Eni]ioria. Kansas and in 1872 Mr. Roe came 
to Kearney. He graduated from the State Nor- 
ma! College at Emporia. Kansas in 1S69. He 
enlisted July 12, 1867, with General Custer in 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



173 



the Indian War in Western Kansas, and was Iowa in 1.S72. He is engaged in the grain 
mustered out in the following November. He business and was the lirst City Marshal of 
married Miss Sidney A. Wilson of Mt. Ayr, Kearney. 



BOYD COUNTY. 



BOYD COUNTY was organized in 1891 
with an area of 53"2 square miles. The popu- 
lation of the county in 1900 was 7,332; of this 
number Butte, the county seat, has 350, Lynch 
231, Gross 325. Spencer 135, and Napier 94. 
The Fremont, Elkhorn and Missouri Valley 
railway company has completed an extension 
of its Verdigris branch through Boyd County, 
along the Ponca Creek. The county is situated 
between the Niobrara and Missouri rivers, in 
northeastern Nebraska, and is well watered. 
In addition to these streams Ponca Creek 
traverses almost the entire length of the 
county and the Keya Paha river empties into 
the Niobrara about twelve miles east of the 
western boundary; there are numerous springs 
and spring branches tributary to these streams. 
An abundance of good water is obtained at a 
depth of from fifteen to seventy-five feet. The 
surface of the land is generally level, or gently 
rolling, except along the streams. About sev- 
enty-five per cent is rich, tillable land and the 
balance is well adapted for grazing. There is 
very little sand or gravel and the soil is a 
heavy, black loam from eighteen inches to four 
feet deep, with a clay subsoil. Corn, wheat, 
oats, rye, barley, potatoes and all kinds of 
vegetables yield bountiful crops. Alfalfa, 
clover, and timothy have been tried in limited 
areas and proved successful. Sugar beets have 
been very successfully produced. Stock-rais- 
ing is a profitable industry. The value of land 
has increased verv materially since 1897, the 



price ranging from $10.00 to $10.00 per acre. 

CH.ARLE^S A. MANVILLE was born Feb- 
ruary 18, 1855, in Crawford County, Pennsyl- 
\ania, and from there removed to Illinois in 
1ST7 and the next year came to Nebraska. He 
received his education in the Academy at On- 
ondago. New York, and the Jefferson Educa- 
tional Institute at Jefferson, Ohio. Mr. Man- 
ville is a member of the Republican party 
and is the superintendent of Boyd County. He 
was Superintendent of Holt County from 188fi 
to 1890 and Clerk of Dodge County from 1896 
to 1900. At present he is the Editor of the 
Spencer Advocate. 

W^ORTH WHITEHORN was born in Illi- 
nois in 1852. His father, John Whitehorn, 
was a farmer and in 1855 they moved to Iowa. 
Mr. Whitehorn received a common school ed- 
ucation and in 1877 settled in Nebraska. He 
has been engaged as a farmer, printer and also 
teacher. He is a member of the Republican 
party and was elected .Surveyor of Boyd 
County on that ticket. 

N. D. BURCH was born in Clinton County, 
Missouri, June 16, 1871. At the age of eleven 
years he went, together with his parents, to 
Texas, where they remained for one year and 
then came to Nebraska. He attended the high 
school at Clarks, Nebraska, and received the 
degree of LL. B. in the University of Ne- 
braska. Mr. Burch is a member of the Republi- 
can party and has been elected Attorney of 
Bovd County on that ticket. 



BURT COUNTY. 



One-fifth of this county is made up of the 
bottom lands of the Missouri in the eastern 
part and Logan Creek in the western part. The 
remainder of the surface is rolling, with an 
average elevation of 100 feet above the bot- 
toms. Bell Creek and Blackbird Creek are 
two other important water supplies. Slough 
land occupies a large part of the county and 
much of this was improved by artificial drain- 
age. The soil in the bottom lands and valleys 
is very productive. Burt County is situated in 



the eastern part of Nebraska, with an acreage 
of 327,000. The Omahas were established here 
when the white settlers arrived, and though 
they did not welcome, they did not especially 
disturb the invaders. Burt County was or- 
ganized in 1854, and the first election was held 
in December, 1854. In this election Burt and 
Blackbird Counties were joined, which entitled 
them to one Councilman and two Representa- 
tives. Burt County was named in honor of 
Hon. Francis Burt, the first governor of Ne- 



174 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




p. E .TAYLOR 



"W. E. PRATT. 



L. D. PHIPPS. 



H. H. BASLER. 



G. A. IRELAND. 



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Burt County Court House 
braska. Two years after its origin a railroad 
was built through the county. For two years 
the pioneers were almost overcome by hard 
times. In 1855 a long drouth occurred, dur- 
ing which the surface was broken by large fis- 
sures, some of which were three feet deep and 
four inches wide. The summer drouth was 
followed by a winter of storms and deep snow. 
The settlers depended on Omaha and Council 
BlufTs for supplies, and since access to these 
places was for a long time cut off, they almost 
perished with cold and hunger. .\ considerable 
amount of sandstone is found at Tekamah and 
Decatur. Limestone and clay for brick making 
are also found in the northern part. 

H. H. BASLER, County Judge, was born 
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.January 14,1867. 
He came to Nebraska in 1868, his father home- 
steading in Dodge County. He acquired his 
education at Simpson College, Indianola, Iowa, 




CORA S. CL.'\RK. HARRT K. CLARK. 
C. G. CLARK. 

-lid took the Sprague Correspondence School 
law course. Also studied law under McGrary 
& Brown of Indianola, Iowa. Mr. Basler taught 
school, was Principal at Palmyra, Iowa, edited 
and published the L3a")ns Sun for three years, 
was manager of the Farmer's Grain & Stock 
Company at Hooper two years, bookkeeper 
three years, and has served as chaplain of the 
Xebraska Division of the Sons of Veterans. 

G. A. IRELAND, Clerk of District Court, 
was born in Chaiupaign, Illinois, March 11, 
1871. W. L. Ireland, his father, came to Ne- 
braska in 1875. The family went to Gosper 
County, where Mr. Ireland, senior, followed 
his trade of plasterer, later going to Saunders 
County. In 1878 the family settled in Burt 
County where Mr. Ireland was educated and 
afterwards appointed Postmaster of Craig. He 
has been elected Clerk of the District Court as 
the choice of the Republican party. 

EMMETT I. ELLIS, County Treasurer, 
was born and brought up in Burt County. J. 
T. Ellis, his father, came to Nebraska in the 
pioneer days, about 1860. He was a carpenter 
by trade and built some of the first houses 
in Omaha. Mr. Ellis was born in 1876 and 
.graduated from the Tekamah High School. 
Then he went into the First National Bank 
and became Assistant Cashier. He has been af- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



175 



filiated with the Republican party and was 
appointed Deputy County Treasurer under J. 
F. Piper in 1896. 

EUGENE BROOKINGS was born in Teka- 
mah, February 10, 1875, son of G. P. Brook- 
ings, who was one of the early settlers of Burt 
County. Mr. Brookings acquired his educa- 
tion in Tekamah, graduating from the High 
School and later attended the Nebraska Nor- 
mal and graduated from the University of Ne- 
braska, class of 1902. He is a member of the 
Republican party and has been elected to a 
second term as County Superintendent. 

C. G. CLARK, County Clerk, was born in 
Cadiz, Ohio, July 10, 1860. He came to Craig, 
Nebraska, in 1882 and has made his residence 
there ever since. He received his education 
in Hopedale Normal, Ohio. His eldest son, 
Harry K. Clark, is Deputy Clerk and his 
daughter is Assistant Deputy. Mr. Clark's 
father was a member of the Ohio Legislature 
in 1861 and 1862. Mr. Clark has been Town- 
ship Clerk and Justice of the Peace and is a 
Republican in politics. 

L. D. PHIPPS, Sheriff, was born m Cedar 
County, Iowa, February 3, 1860. In 1867 he 
went with his parents to Benton County, Iowa, 
later to Guthrie County, Iowa and in 1886 to 
Burt County, Nebraska. He has held the of- 
fices of School Treasurer, Road Overseer and 
Sheriff. His father was a veteran of the Mex- 
ican War. 



r. E. TAYLOR, County Attorney, was born 
in Dry Run, Pennsylvania, January 18, 1871. 
In 1900 he came to Wisner, Nebraska, and 
1903 to Lyons. Mr. Taylor graduated from 
the Pennsylvania State Normal School, was 
admitted to the bar in 1895 and practiced be- 
fore the Supreme Court at Philadelphia. He 
also served in the Spanish-American war as 
a member of the Governor's Troop, Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteer Cavalry, participating in the 
Porto Rican campaign. In Pennsylvania he 
served three years as County Solicitor and af- 
ter a short residence in Burt County, was 
elected County Attorney. 

W. E. PRATT, who has been County Sur- 
veyor for seventeen years without intermission, 
was born in Wyoming County, New York, May 
8, 1859. He came to Nebraska with his parents 
who located in Burt County, having taken a 
homestead, in 1856. Mr. Pratt graduated 
from the Tekamah High School and went into 
the mercantile business. He was elected to 
the office of County Surveyor in 1887 and 
has held it ever since. 

HARRY K. CLARK was born in Harrison 
County, Ohio, February 4, 1880. In 1882 he 
removed with his parents to Craig, Nebraska, 
and grew to manhood and was educated there 
and in Bellevue College. He is a member of 
the Republican party. In 1900 he was Census 
Enumerator and is now serving his second 
term as Deputy County Clerk. 



BUTLER COUNTY. 



Butler County was organized in 1868 with 
a population of two hundred, which, in the last 
thirty-six years has increased to 15,703. The 
Mormons were the earliest visitors in the coun- 
ty, and the road they followed, called the "Old 
Mormon Trail" together with the thoroughfare 
known as the "C)ld Government Road" were 
the only signs of life until 1857. The "Old Mor- 
mon Trail" entered the south-eastern part, fol- 
lowed a divide north to the table-land, then 
around the northern edge to the point where 
Deer Creek leavs the hills, and so down anoth- 
er divide to the Platte valley. The first at- 
tempts at settlement were made by the Wav- 
erly Town Company of Plattsmouth. They 
stopped on the banks of a creek which they 
named Skull Creek, from the large number of 
Pawnee skulls which they found there. The 
year following the departure of the Waverlv 



Town Co., Solomon Garfield and James Blair, 
with their families, came to make Butler Coun- 
ty their permanent home. They settled on the 
west bank of Skull Creek just north of the Lin- 
wood Mills. The immigrants who gradually 
entered the county invariably chose the Platte 
Valley, while the highlands were left unmolest- 
ed. At the organization in 1869, Savannah was 
made the first county seat but this honor was 
soon transferred to David City, which position 
it still holds. The county seat at present has a 
liopulation of 1,8-15. The first public building 
in Butler was a sod thatched school-house. 
School was kept up for some time with volun- 
tary subscriptions by the residents of the dis- 
trict. The present census shows 5,802 school 
children. In 1871 a great snow storm visited 
this section. Herds of Texan cattle were very 
Iroulilcsome during these first years in dam- 



176 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




M. J. BOUSE. 



C. M. SKILES. 



LEWIS spelt: 



KAY M. HARRIS 



C. D. CASPER. 




JOSEPH C. HRUSHKA 



Butler County Court House 



aging the field produce. The pioneers at 
length became aroused and a brief but bloody 
battle ensued between the inhabitants and the 
Texan herders. Several hundred cattle were 
butchered which effectually put a stop to their 
visits. In 1871 a great prairie fire swept across 
the county, and though the loss did not exceed 
$20,000, it laid waste the entire property of the 
settlers. Butler county has especially good 
means of transportation. There are three rail- 
roads, which cover 134.27 miles in the county. 
L. C. REN is of Scotch-Irish parentage. He 
was born near Seymore, Indiana on the thir- 
tieth of May, 1854, and came to Nebraska in 
1883. His education was received in the pub- 
lic schools of Indiana. He held the posi- 
tion of County Supervisor during the building 
of the court house, and from 1897 to 1901 was 



( onnty Sheriff. He is now Chief of the David 
Lity police and is a member of the Populist 
party. He married Rosa J. Lorenz in 1884 and 
lias four children. 

CHARLES D. CASPER, the editor and 
publisher of The Butler County Press, enlisted 
in the regular army and served in South Da- 
kota as a private in the Twenty-second Infan- 
tr\^ At the close of the war he went to 
Ohio and came to Nebraska in 1873. He 
started the first newspaper in Butler county at 
Savannah, the old county seat, and moved the 
paper to David City when the county seat was 
changed to that place. He was born in Red 
Lion, Delaware, December 10, 1845. He at- 
tended school in an old log building until he 
was sixteen years old. In 1880 he was mar- 
ried to Nancy M. Brownsett and they have 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



177 



three daughters. 'Sir. Casper is a nieniber of 
the Democratic party and has represented 
Butler County in the State Legislature. 

RAY .M. HARRIS was born at Ligoneen, 
Indiana, on the ninth of September, 1873. His 
father, James E. Harris, is a minister and ex- 
Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska. Mr. Harris 
is a lawyer by profession and is now Attorney 
for Butler County. He was married to Carrie 
A. Quade. January 15, 1003. He was gradu- 
ated from Nebraska State University in the 
class of 1897, and from the law department of 
the same institution in 1900. He filled the po- 
sition of Principal of the Wahoo High School 
during the years of 1897 and 1898. He is a 
member of the Democratic party. 

M. J. BOUSE is a native of Bohemia, and 
his parents, Frank and Katherine Bouse, never 
came to America. The time of his birth was 
October 24, 1SG7 and at the age of thirteen he 
came to America. He moved to Nebraska in 
1886. He is serving as Clerk of Butler County 
for the second term, and his politics are Dem- 
ocratic. In 1891 he was married to Mamie 
H. Zerzan, and they have one child. He is a 
tailor by occupation. 

C. M. SKILES was born July 7, 1866 at 
Fort Madison, Iowa, from which place he came 
to Nebraska in 1884. His parents were Alex- 
ander and Margaret Skiles. He is now serv- 
ing his third term as Judge of Butler County. 
He took his A. B. degree at the State LTniver- 



sity in IS!(2 and received LL. B. in 1895. In 
1904 he was luarried to .Anna W. Swarr. Po- 
liticallv he is a Democrat. 

JOSEPH C. HRUSHKA obtained his edu- 
cation at the Dccorah Institute, of Decorah, 
Iowa, and at the Lincoln Normal, being a 
teacher by profession. He taught a country 
school at Spillville, Iowa for three years, and 
for five years in Butler County, Nebraska. 
During four years he was principal of the 
schools at Abie and Linwood. He was borft 
January 6, 1876 in Bohemia, Austria, and came 
to Iowa when si.x months old. He removed 
to Nebraska in 1896 and in 1897 was married 
to Caroline L. Dvorak, by whom he has four 
children. He resides at David City and is 
serving his second term as County Superin- 
tendent. He is a member of the Republican 
party. 

LE\\TS SPELTS was a soldier in the Civil 
War and served from January 1862 to Febru- 
ary. 1SG.5. He was married January 30, 1870 
to jNIiss Lizzie Woods and they haVe a fam- 
ily of nine children, five boys and four girls. 
He is a grain and stock dealer and owns 
several elevators. His parents, Joseph and 
Sarah Spelts, were living in Green County, 
Indiana, at the time of his birth on December 
29, 1844. At the age of thirteen he moved to 
Illinois and in 1879 came ot Nebraska. He 
is now ]\rayor of David City and was elected 
on the Republican ticket. 



CASS COUNTY. 



The men who made up the famous Lewis 
and Clarke expedition were the first white men 
to explore Cass County. The first actual set- 
tlement was a trading-post which was set up 
in 1853. By a proclamation of President 
Pierce in 1854, Cass County, along with other 
lands along the Missouri was opened up for 
pre-emption. Claim owners were not required 
to improve the property and the greater part 
of the settlers' abodes were merely dug-outs 
in the sides of theblufTs. Club law, or rather 
mob law, constituted the supreme authority 
from June 18.54 to September 1855. Even six 
years after the organization of the county, 
three hor.se-thieves from the Iowa side of the 
river were hanged by this same mob force. 
In 1855 Cass County was organized. It has 
an area of 632 square miles and its population 
is 21,330. The soil is a light loam, varying 



from 1 1-2 foot to 20 feet in depth, with a clay 
subsoil. Land sells for $25 to $75 per acre. 
Blue, gray and white limestone is quarried ex- 
tensively here and red sand-stone is found in 
many places along the Platte. The blue lime- 
stone is such good quality that it can sus- 
tain a pressure of 44,000 pounds to the square 
inch. Cass County has ten flouring and grist 
mills in operation, and sixteen brick yards. 
There are many natural groves in the county 
owing to its e.xcellent water system. These 
groves consist of cottonwood, hickory, oak, 
cedar, maple and locust trees. It is also a 
profitable fruit region and apples, peaches, and 
many kinds of grapes are grown. Over one 
hundred varieties of grasses are found here. 
The first school was a singing school in 1855, 
which was conducted in a little log house just 
west of Plattsmouth. There are now 7,598 



178 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




TURNER ZINK. 



HENRY BOECK. W. D. WHEELER. HAItVKY D. TRAVIS. ( '. S. WORTMAN. 




L. A. TYSON. 




ROOT. 



Cass Countv Court House 



school children in the county. The earh- 
county history is connected with the history of 
the Rebellion. In 1861 an organization of sol- 
diers was formed which was afterwards Com- 
pany A of the First Nebraska Volunteers. On 
June 11, 1861, this company was mustered in- 
to the United States Service. Plattsmouth, 
the county seat, has a population of 4,964. The 
railway facilities of the county are lt;4.'.i4 miles 
in lengtii. 

C. S. WORTMAN is a native Nebraskan. 
having been born at South Bend, May 31, 1877. 



His schooling was made up of High School, 
Normal and University work. He is en- 
gaged in school work and is at present County 
Superintendent of Cass. His politics is Dem- 
ocratic. 

JAMES ROBERTSON was born in Scot- 
land in 1852. When he was twenty years old 
he came with his parents to America and set- 
tled in Lincoln. Nebraska. He removed to Cass 
County in 18*9, where he was Deputy County 
Clerk for two years and clerk for six years. 
He is a dealer in stone and sand and is at 



I 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



179 



present Clerk of the District Court, elected 
on the Republican ticket. 

H. A. SCHNEIDER'S parents, Jacob and 
Anna Schneider, were of German parentage, 
although born in Switzerland. Since his birth, 
June 29. 1875, at Cedar Creek, Nebraska, he has 
always been a resident of Cass County. His 
occupation is that of a merchant at Cedar 
Creek. He is now serving his first term as 
Register of Deeds. He is a member of the 
Republican party. 

L. A. TYSON, a druggist by profession, is 
serving his second term as Clerk of Cass Coun- 
ty. He was born on the fifteenth of February. 
1863 in DeKalb County, Illinois. He located 
at Elmwood, Nebraska, in 1866 before the or- 
ganization of the state institutions was com- 
pleted. His father was a New Yorker and his 
mother was born in England. 

HENRY BOECK is engaged in the furni- 
ture and undertaking business at Plattsmouth, 
Nebraska, and is now serving his second term 
as County Coroner. He supplied all the peo- 
ple in Plattsmouth with furniture of his own 
manufacture before the factory system be- 
came common. He was County Coroner for 
two terms, beginning with 1886. Born Febru- 
ary 15, 1833 in Germany, where his parents 
still live, he came to America in 1853, locat- 
ing in Pennsylvania. Later he went to Illinois 
and finally in 1857 removed to Nebraska. In 
politics he is a Republican. 

TURNER ZINK has the honor of being the 
first Postmaster at Luella, Nebraska. At pres- 
ent he is serving his second term as Chair- 
man of the County Board of Commissioners. 
He is of American parentage and his mother 
•died when he was a boy. He was born Sep- 
tember 23, 1847, in Highland County, Ohio, 
from which place he removed to Illinois in 
1867, to Iowa in 1870 and to Nebraska in 1876. 
His politics is Republican. 

HENRY R. GERING was born April 27, 
1868 at Cedar Falls, Iowa, where he attended 
High School. He is a druggist and has been 
a member of the State Pharmacy Board. He 
has lived in Nebraska since September of 1887. 
Mr. Gering has been City Treasurer and is 
now serving his first term as Mayor of Platts- 
mouth. He is Chairman of the Democratic Cen- 



tral Committee and is Secretary of the Board 
of Trade. 

JESSE L. ROOT came to Nebraska in 1883. 
He has also lived in Mississippi, Colorado, 
Illinois and Michigan. He is the son of Charles 
M. and Miranda B. Root, who were living in 
Tazwell County, Illinois, at thetime of his birth 
on November 27, 1860. He was educated in 
the common schools of Michigan and Illinois. 
He is a practicing lawyer at Plattsmouth and 
is now in his third term as County Attor- 
ney. His legal training was received in the law 
office of Judge S. M. Chapman of Plattsmouth. 
Mr. Root is one of the state examiners on 
the Board of Examiners for the Nebraska State 
Bar. He is affiliated with the Republican 
party and was an alternate from this congres- 
sional district at the last Republican national 
convention. 

WILLIAM D. WHEELER was born in 
January of the year 1857 in Capivale County, 
Mississippi. At the age of eleven he removed 
to Kansas and in 1874 he came to Nebraska. 
His schooling was at a high school in Kansas 
His former occupation was farming. He served 
as Sheriff of Cass County during two terms 
from 1897 to 1901 and is now County Treas- 
urer. He was married in 1879 and has five 
children. He is affiliated with the Democratic 
party. 

HARVEY D. TRAVIS is a lawyer at Platts- 
mouth and is now County Judge of Cass Coun- 
ty. He was also County Attorney for four 
years. He received his education at high 
school and at Oberlin College. He was born on 
the fifteenth of June 1853 at West Point, Ohio. 
From that place he removed to Jacksonville, 
Florida, in 1880, and to Nebraska" in 1882. He 
is Democratic in politics. 

J. D. McBRIDE was born March 1, 1857, in 
Green County, Tennessee, whence he moved 
to Missouri, then to Illinois, and finally to 
Nebraska in 1885. His father, William F. Mc- 
Bride, was Scotch and his mother, Amanda, 
was German. His residence is at Plattsmouth. 
He was educated in the common schools. For 
four years he was Deputy Sheriff and he is 
now serving his second term as Sheriff. He is 
a member of the Democratic party. 



180 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 
CHASE COUNTY. 




Chase Co 
Chase countv is 



unty Couit House 
one of the newer 



coun- 



ties, having been organized in 1886. From 
the fact tliat it has only 18.2 miles of railroad 
and that it is not naturally adapted for farm- 
ing, its population is but 2,559. The soil is 
mostly a dark, sandy loam and in many places 
very rich, though the climate is too dry for 
raising grain without the employment of arti- 
ficial means. There are now over fifty miles 
of irrigations and farming is being carried on. 
The county is watered by Frenchman River,_ 
Spring River and Sand Creek. The level river 
bottoms are bordered by bluffs which are cut 
by many canons. These bluffs make good 
grazing, as well as sheltering places for the 
stock. Imperial is the county seat, with a 
population of 258. There are 921 school chil- 
dren in the county. Cherries, plums and 
peaches are successfully cultivated here, while 
corn, wheat, millet, cane and potatoes make 
up the principal farm produce. Land has in- 
creased one-fifth in value in the last few vears. 



CEDAR COUNTY. 



Cedar County has been greatly hinderedin 
its growth by the various calamities which 
have befallen it since its organization in 1857. 
At first it was necessary to maintain a con- 
stant defense against the Indians, especially 
the tribe of Poncas at whose hands several 
murders are recorded. In 186-1, at the time of 
the general stampede on account of an upris- 
ing of the Indians, the inhabitants of Cedar 
County built fortifications and prepared to de- 
fend themselves. Another setback to progress 
was that at first much of the land was held by 
non-residents and was not open for claim set- 
tlement. The Civil War and the grasshopper 
visitation were means of retarding the growth. 
In later years the flood of 1881 destroyed an 
immense amount of property, and in some in- 
stances the settlers were glad to escape with 
their lives. The valleys of the Antelope, Beav- 
er and Bow Creek comprise nearly one-half 
the surface of Cedar County, and in some 
places these valleys are perfectly level for miles 
in extent. The soil is rich and is mostly of 
vegetable mold. An immense amount of chalk 
rock is found here which is used in some de- 
gree for building purposes. The 716 square 
miles of area are occupied by 12,467 people. 
Hartington, the county seat, has a population 



of Oil. Land has doubled in value since 1897. 
The manufacturies consist of five flour and 
grist mills and three brick yards. 

L. J. HOILE, County Clerk, was born in 
Wood County, Ohio, June 7, 1869. He removed 
in 1892 to Wayne, Nebraska, where he engaged 
for six years in the lumber business as travel- 
ling manager and collector. He then went to 
Laurel, Nebraska as manager of a lumber 
yard and after a residence of four and a half 
years there was elected County Clerk. He 
gained his education at Prairie Depot, Ohio in 
the high school. In 1897 he married Miss 
Ella Pergellis and they have two children. Mr. 
Hoile received 231 out of 239 votes in his home 
town. 

M. T. WOODS, Clerk of the District Court, 
was born in Warren County, Illinois, January 
22, 1872. Removed with his parents to Kan- 
sas in 1876, returned to Illinois in 1879, came 
to Butler County, Nebraska in 1882, to Holt 
County in 1884 and settled in Cedar County in 
1895. He gained his education in the high 
school at Atkinson, Nebraska. In 1889 he mar- 
ried Miss Nellie Inez Patrick. He has held sev- 
eral ofiices such as Justice of the Peace, Street 
Commissioner, City Clerk and Town Marshal. 

C. H. WHITNEY, County Attorney, was 



J 



COUNTY HISTORY, 



181 




R. T. O'GARA. FRANK DOWLING. J. F. ROSENBERGER. M. E. BUTTERFIEI.D. C. H, -WHITNEY. 




W. F. SCHWERIN. 



^ 


p 

• 




- 




JOHN B. SUNG. 



Cedar County Court House 





M. T. WOODS. L. J. HOILE. JOHN NOECKER. R. J. MU.l.ARD. A. H. CRES^Y. 



182 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



born in }ilarshall County, Iowa, June 8, 1865. 
He removed with his parents to Shelby County, 
Iowa in 1873 and came to Nebraska in 1899. 
He is a graduate of the high school at Harlan, 
Iowa, Western Normal College, Shenandoah 
and the Law Department of the Iowa State 
University. He was Attorney of Shelby Coun- 
ty, Iowa and has been Judge of Cedar County, 
Nebraska. He was married to Miss Addie E. 
Record in 1893 and they have three children. 

M. E. BUTTERFIELD, serving his second 
term as County Treasurer, was born in Union 
County, Minnesota, April 17, 1855. He is of 
English-Scotch descent. In 1879 he took a 
claim in North Dakota and came to Coleridge, 
Nebraska in 1888, where he resided until he 
came to Hartington as County Treasurer. He 
was elected on the Republican ticket. In 1877 
he married Miss Martha Paine and they have 
two children. Mr. Butterfield has been in the 
lumber business in Coleridge for sixteen years. 

A. E. WARD, serving his fourth term as 
County Superintendent, was born in Anamosa, 
Iowa, May 13, 1868. He removed to Madison, 
Nebraska with his parents and came to Cedar 
County in 1889. He took the Teacher's and 
Literary courses in the Madison Normal Col- 
lege and has been engaged in educational work 
ever since. He married Miss J. Irene Gates of 
Mattawan. Michigan in 1889 and they have 
two daughters. He is a member of the Repub- 
lican party and has also served as Deputy 
Clerk four years. 

R. T. MILLARD was born in Fulton Coun- 
ty, Ohio. April 14, 1869. In 1890 he removed 
to Grand Island and in 1896 to Hartington, his 
present home, after spending three years trav- 
elling. He was admitted to the bar in 1890, 
having graduated in law from Chaddock Col- 
lege, Quincy, Illinois and taken post-graduate 
work in law at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He is 
a member of the Democratic party and has 
been County Attorney four years. In 1901 he 
married Miss Margaret Blackney and they 
have one child. 

W. F. SCHWERIN, County Commissioner, 
Avas born at Doeletz. Prussia, October SO, 1850, 
being the son of IMichael Schwerin, manager of 
Agricultural Works in Doeletz. He came to 
Monroe, Wisconsin in 1866, moved to IMilford, 
Nebraska in 1874 and engaged in missionary 
work over the state until 1897, when he settled 
on a farm near Eelden. His education was 
gained in the public schools of Germany and by 
private study in America. In 1874 he married 



Miss Elizabeth Bremer and they have seven 
children. 

JOHN NOECKER, County Commissioner, 
was born in Germany November 25, 1859 and 
came with his parents to Bow Valley, Nebras- 
ka in 1871, where he has since remained. He 
has been married twice and has five children. 
He has held several offices, school director 
about ten years, precinct assessor six years and 
has served two terms as County Commissioner. 
jNIr. Noecker is now president of the German 
Mutual Insurance Company. 

JOHN B. SUING, Chairman of the Board of 
County Commissioners was born in Baltimore, 
Maryland, June 14, 1854. In 1856 he removed 
with his parents to Dubuque County, Iowa and 
in 1861 came to St. Helena, Cedar County, Ne- 
barska, where he has since remained, following 
the occupation of farming. He married Miss 
Matilda Becker in 1879 and they have nine 
children. He has been Treasurer and Director 
of Schools and Road Supervisor. Mrs. Suing 
is one of the early settlers of Nebraska and 
took a homestead and tree claim in Cedar 
County. 

]\I. P. BL'AL, Deputy County Clerk, was 
born in Monticello, Iowa, July 15, 1881 and 
came to Cedar County in 1885. In 1888 he re- 
moved to Randolph, which has since been his 
home. He received his education in the Ran- 
dolph public schools and the University of 
Nebraska -and was appointed Deputy County 
Clerk at the age of twenty-two. His father, 
Paul Buel is a banker. 

R. T. O'GARA, ex-Countj' Superintendent of 
Schools, was born in Ireland in 1838. He left 
Ireland in 1853 and came to Wisconsin in 1855. 
He homesteaded in Cedar County, Nebraska in 
1870 where he has since resided. He received 
his education in the common schools and the 
high school of County Leitrim, Ireland. He 
was married in 1871 to Miss Susan Hayes and 
has seven children. He was Superintendent of 
Schools in Cedar County for ten years and is 
one of the oldest settlers of Northeastern Ne- 
braska, also one of the first to locate in Cedar 
County. 

A. H. CRESSY, County Assessor, was born 
in Tonroh, Wis., March 18. 1859. His father, 
Henry Cressy, was killed in the Civil War 
about 1864 at Macon, Georgia and Mr. Cressy 
received his schooling in the Soldiers' Orphan's 
Home at Madison, Wisconsin. In 1878 he went 
to Minnesota, later to Iowa and then to Burt 
Countv, Nebraska. In 1892 he settled in Cedar 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



183 



County, where he has since remained and been 
engaged in farming. In 1882 he married Miss 
Imogene Sinclair and they have eleven chil- 
dren. He was the first assessor of Cedar 
County. 

FRANK BOWLING was born in Hamilton, 
Illinois, September 27, 1862, removed to Butler 
County, Nebraska in 1870, attended the high 
school at David City and also took a course 
with the International Correspondence School 
of Scribner, Pennsylvania. In 1883 he moved 
to Holt County and in 1896 to Cedar County. 
He learned the blacksmithing trade and 
worked at that for twenty years, during which 
time he studied civil engineering. After com- 
pleting his course he commenced civil engi- 



neering. He was elected Surveyor of Cedar 
County in 1898 and has held that position ever 
since. He is a member of the Democratic 
party. 

J. F. ROSENBERGER was born in Iowa 
County, Iowa, January 18, 18G1, where he re^ 
ceived a common school education. He came 
to Nebraska in March, 1885 and went to North 
western Nebraska, locating in what was known 
as the White River Country when it was 
opened for settlement. He returned to Cedar 
County in 1891, where he has been engaged 
in farming and stock-raising. Mr. Rosenberger 
is a member of the Republican party and is 
serving his first term as sheriflf of Cedar 
Countv. 



CHERRY COUNTY. 



Cherry, the largest county in the state, was 
organized in 1883 and has an area of 5,859 
square miles, which is about one-half that of 
Belgium, and is equal to the combined areas of 
the states of Connecticut and Rhode Island. 
It forms a part of what is known as the "sand 
hills country" and is well adapted to stock- 
raising, with detached portions of fairly good 
farming land in the valleys. A great many 
cattle, horses and sheep are fed on the range ; 
the value of live stock in 1900 was $4,667,692 
and that of products not fed to live stock in 
1899, $1,231,264. About 2,500,000 acres of gov- 
ernment land suitable for range purposes are 
still open to settlement in the county. There 
are two flouring and grist mills. An important 
feature presented to the successful industry of 
stock-raising, so extensively carried on, is the 
abundance of water supplied by numerous 
streams, lakelets and wells. The county has 
112.71 miles of railwav and land is worth from 
$1.25 to $10.00 per acre. It has 6,541 inhabi- 
tants, of which Valentine, the county seat, has 
811. Cody has a population of 205 and Wood 
Lake has 152. 

J. T. KEELEY was born in Manchester, 
England, October 4, 1859 and came to America 
with his parents when five years of age. They 
lived at Brooklyn, New York, until 1869 and 
then he removed to Hazleton, Pennsylvania, 
later coming to Holt County, Nebraska. In 
1888 he moved to Cherry County and spent 
three years in the Government Indian Service. 
In Holt County he was Deputy County Treas- 
urer and is now Deputy County Clerk of 



Cherry County. In 1882 he married Miss 
Catherine McNealis and they have six children. 

H. E. LAYPORT is a native of Iowa and 
the date of his birth is August 19, 1879. When 
seven years of age his parents came to Ne- 
braska and Cherry County has been his home 
ever since. He married Miss Florence Hamer 
in 1901 and is now serving his fourth term as 
Deputy Sheriiif. He was educated in the pub- 
lic schools of Valentine. 

W. R. TOWNE, one of the earliest pioneers 
of Nebraska, was born in Vermont Ocotber 7, 
1834 at Franklin. At the age of twentv he 
tried a sailor's life one year and between 1855 
and 1859 lived in Chicago and Minnesota. In 
1861 he enlisted in the Chicago Dragoons, 
then joined Fremont's expedition in Missouri, 
was transferred to Pope's command and was 
at the evacuation of Corinth. In 1863 he 
joined the scout service of Missouri. In 1870 
he became a stage-driver, built the stockyards 
in Schuyler, Nebraska, and was Superintend- 
ent there, taking the first herd of cattle to 
South Loup. He lived at Creston, Iowa from 
1871 to 1880 and was Mayor there one term. 
He then moved to Wyoming and in 1883 came 
to Cherry County. He was appointed County 
Judge in 1896 and has since been elected three 
times to that position on the Democratic 
ticket. 

C. S. REECE was born March 12, 1871 in 
Andrew County, Missouri. In 1886 he re- 
moved to Kansas and three years later to 
Cherry County, Nebraska. He was educated 
in the public schools of Missouri and Kansas 



184 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 





E. D. CLARKE. R. H. WATSON. C. S. REE(;i:. W. < '. SMATTUCK. I.. N. LAYPORT. 




-mi 



1 





H. 



LAYPORT. 



J. T. KEELEY. 



W. R. TOWNE. 



OTRTRUDE JORDAN. 



ETTA BROWN. 




Cherry County Court House 

and has done advanced work in the Neljraska 
teachers' institutes. In 1903 he married Miss 
Harriet Tliackeray. He has served as Deputy 
County C !erk two terms and is now County 
Clerk. Mr. Recce has a ranch of 1,740 acres 
well stocked witli horses and cattle. 



L. N. LAYPORT was born in Iowa Novem- 
ber 13, 1856. He came to Cherry County in 
1886 and took a homestead, pre-emption and 
tree-claim-. He has been engaged in ranching 
and in 1878 married Miss Annie Ladley. He 
has served the county as Sheriff three terms 
and previously was City Marshal at Valentine. 
He has taken thirty-five men to the State 
Penitentiary at Lincoln, never allowed a pris- 
oner to escape and never handcuffed but two 
men. 

ETTA BROWN is a native of Hillsboro, 
Ohio. She taught school in Iowa and gradu- 
ated from Highland Park Normal College in 
1894. She then came to Valentine, teaching 
during the year and attending the summer 
school at the l^niversity of Nebraska. She 
has four times been elected County Superin- 
tendent on the Republican ticket. She was 
Vice President of the Superintendents' and 
Principals' Association in 1904 and also of the 
State Teachers' Association. 

W. C. SHATTUCK is a native of Indiana, 
born April 15, 1843. He was educated in the 
Union Christian College and Terre Haute 



i 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



185 



Academy. In 18G1 he enlisted in Company I), 
Forty-third Indiana, was wounded at Helena, 
Arkansas and mustered out in 18C5. He came 
to what is now Sheridan County in 1883 and 
in 1899 removed to Cherry County. In 18(J5 
he marrried Miss Fannie Harness. He was 
County Commissioner in Sheridan County 
three years and is serving his second term as 
County Treasurer of Cherry County. Mr. 
Shattuck has 3,400 acres of deeded land, well 
stocked. 

(iERTRUDE JORDAN was born in Mar- 
shalltown, Iowa, July 21, 1879. Ten years 
later her parents moved to Kansas, where she 
received her education, graduating from the 
Dodge City High School in 1897. She came 
to Valentine in 1901, taking a homestead, and 
has now homesteaded the remainder of the 640 
acres allowed under the Kinkaid law. She has 
taught school, been recording clerk in the 
County Clerk's office and now holds the posi- 
tion of Deputy Treasurer. 

E. D. CLARKE was born in Corning, Iowa 
January 10, 1864 and graduated from the Iowa 



State University in 1884. In 1885 he took a 
homestead in Cherry County, relinquished it 
in 1898 and took another one. In 1899 he mar- 
ried Miss M. S. Carlisle. He is serving his 
fourth term as County Attorney of Cherry 
County, having been elected on the Republican 
ticket. 

y R. H. WATSON was born January 23, 1857, 
,-iin Centerville, West Virginia. He was edu- 
cated in the State Normal and State University 
of West Virginia and took the degree B. S. in 
the Lincoln Normal University, Lincoln, Ne- 
braska. He came to Douglas County, Ne- 
braska in 1882, to Saunders County in 1884 and 
came to Valentine in 1896. Mr. Watson was 
married June 20, 1889 to Miss Mabel Danley 
of Ashland, Nebraska. He was Principal of 
Schools at Vali^araiso, Nebraska and four years 
Superintendent of Saunders County. He has 
l)een Principal of the Valentine schools for 
eight years and is the Principal of the Junior 
State Normal at Valentine. He has been a 
member of the State Teachers' Association 
since 1882. 



CHEYENNE COUNTY. 



Cheyenne County in the western part of the 
state is one of the largest counties, having an 
area of 2,645 sq. miles. The surface rolls from 
an elevation of 3,350 feet in the eastern part 
to a height of 5,000 feet in the west. Sand hills 
and rocky bluffs form a part of the surface. 
Stock raising is widely engaged in, and there 
are many reasons why this should be the prin- 
cipal occupation. The necessary water supply 
is furnished by numerous streams, and the fer- 
tile valleys and grassy hills along these waters 
afford .excellent opportunities for grazing. The 
dry climate and the mild winters which cause 
little need for shelter are also very favorable 
for stock raising. In late years quite extensive 
farming has been made possible by the opera- 
tion of irrigating canals, and a great deal of 
small grain, corn and potatoes is raised. Many 
stone quarries are profitably worked. In the 
pioneer times the only settlements were made 
at ranches along the great emigrant and trans- 
portation roads. These were started for the 
purpose of selling supplies to freighters and 
movers and also for trading with the Indians. 
There were many sharp -fights ^with the In- 
dians on account of stock stealip^, scalping and 
the pillaging and burning of towns by the red 



men. These troubles were ended by a battle 
fought a short distance from Ft. Sedgwick on 
June 11, 1869 in which the Indians were routed. 
The first school was taught by Mrs. Irene 
Sherwood at her residence. The attendance 
at that time was ten pupils. Years after, this 
same little school developed into a flourishing 
graded school with a high school for more ad- 
\-anced work. There are now 1,653 school 
children in the county, while the entire popu- 
lation is 5,570. Sidney, the county seat, con- 
tains 1,001 people. 

FRANCES E. KNOX is a teacher by voca- 
tion and received her education in the high 
school and Business College at Afton, Iowa. 
Her birthplace is Central City, Iowa, and she 
was born March 21, 1868. She has made Sid- 
ney her home since 1898 and is now County 
Superintendent of Cheyenne County. In 1896 
she .was married to Alvin B. Knox and they 
have one son. She is a Republican. 

R. E. BARRETT was born October 23, 1872 
at North Platte, Nebraska, and moved to Chey- 
enne County in 1877. He is a graduate of the 
Chappell High School in Deuel County. He 
was a farmer and railroad employee before his 
official duties commenced in 1900. He has 



186 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 







ROBLEY D. HARRIS. J. W. LEE FRANCES E. KNOX. CM. HADLEY. F. A. GAPEN. 




M. E. WASHBURN 



JAMES TUCKER. 





A. K. GREENLEE. J. J. MINTOSH. WILLIAM P. MILES. EDWARD McLERNON. W. S. DORAN. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



18T 



been Census Enumerator and is now County 
Clerk. In 1897 he married Miss Grace Durkee 
of Lodge Pole, Nebraska, and they have two 
children. He is affiliated with the Republicans. 

JAMES TUCKER has been a merchant 
tailor in Sidney for the past ten years. His 
native home is in Warren County, Missouri, 
and the time of his birth was March 14, 1860. 
His father died about 1864 and he came to 
Omaha with his mother in 1871. He next 
changed his residence to Sidney, and for many 
years traveled as a journeyman tailor. In 1893, 
on the third of July, he was married to Nellie 
May Chapin of Oberlin, Kansas. He is allied 
with the Democrats. 

A. K. GREENLEE is a merchant of Sidney, 
Nebraska. His birthplace is in Crawford 
County, Pennsylvania, and he was born Octo- 
ber 25, 1860, and his father died when he was 
nine years old. He was educated in the Penn- 
sylvania public schools and at the Valparaiso 
Normal of Indiana. When his schooling was 
finished, he lived in York County for a time, 
before coming to Cheyenne County in 1885. 
He is in the mercantile business, although he 
is now County Treasurer. He is a member of 
the Republican party. Elizabeth McAllitser 
was his wife's maiden name and he was mar- 
ried in May of 1888. 

J. W. LEE is a liveryman at Sidney, Ne- 
braska, and is now Sheriiif. Previously he 
served as Constable for twelve years. He is a 
native of Ohio and was born February 14, 
1870. When a child he moved to Indiana with 
his parents, and in 1884 to Nebraska. He has 
lived in Cheyenne County since 1900. Miss 
Cecelia Ashley was his wife's maiden name, 
and he was married on the sixth of Ferbuary 
of 1901. He has one daughter, Dorothy. He 
is a member of M. W. A. at Bridgeport, Ne- 
braska. 

C. M. HADLEY is serving his first term as 
County Assessor, having previously been Pre- 
cinct Assessor. His birth occurred at Elko, 
Nevada, May 14, 1875. He is the son of James 
S. Hadley, a carpenter. As an infant he came 
to Iowa with his parents and to Cheyenne 
County, Nebraska in 1887, where his father 
pre-empted land. He is a member of the Dem- 
ocratic party. 

C. M. WRIGHT was born July 18, 1861 at 
Adel, Iowa, from which state he moved to 
Kansas in 1883. After spending one winter in 
Iowa, he came to Cheyenne County in 1887. 
His vocation is that of a tinsmith. He has held 



several town offices and is now serving his sec- 
ond term as County Coroner. His wife was 
Miss Annie Young of Iowa, to whom he was 
married in 1883. 

W. S. DORAN is the son of Edmund Doran, 
a retired ranchman, who was among the ear- 
liest settlers of Cheyenne County. He was 
born October 28, 1879, at Sidney, Nebraska, 
where he has always lived with the exception 
of two or three years, during which time he 
was employed on the railroad at North Platte. 
In 1896 he completed his course at Sidney High 
School, and in 1897 was graduated from North 
Platte High School. He holds the office of 
Deputy County Treasurer, and in politics is a 
Republican. 

M. E. WASHBURN is a native of \'an 
Buren County, Iowa, and he was born Decem- 
ber 4, 1857. He moved to Cheyenne County, 
Nebraska in 1887 and homesteaded on the farm 
which he still holds. He has ranching interests 
and is a dealer in horses and cattle, along with 
his livery business. He was Constable and 
Marshal of Sidney before his appointment as 
Deputy Sheriff. I'n 1882 he married Miss Kit- 
tie Grafton of Iowa. He is affiliated with the 
Republican party. 

ROBLEY D. HARRIS was born in Zanes- 
ville, Ohio, July 26, 1848 and came to Ne- 
braska in 1866. During the same year, he left 
for California where he lived for ten years. He 
entered the army as a member of the medical 
department, and for three years was in the 
Northwest Territory fighting the Indians under 
General Miles. He graduated from the Col- 
lege of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, 
Missouri, in 1880. After living for a short time 
in North Platte, Nebraska, he moved to Keith 
County, where he practiced medicine until his 
final removal to Sidney in 1897. He has- held 
the offices of Coroner of Keith County for two 
terms. Representative in the State Legislature 
in 1895 and Receiver in the LInited States Land 
Office for the past seven years. He also acted 
as Register of the Land Office during four 
years of this time. Pie was a candidate for the 
nomination of Lieutenant Governor on the Re- 
publican ticket this year, but withdrew. In 
1878 he was married to Miss Edith Cary of 
Ohio. He served in the Civil War and was 
with the command which captured Morgan in 
his raid through Ohio. 

F. A. GAPEN was born October 24, 1870 in 
Bloomington, Illinois, where he acquired his 
education in the city schools and in Wcsleyan 



188 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



University. He came to Sidney, Nebraska, in 
the summer of 1894, which has since been his 
home. He is editor of "The Telegraph," hav- 
ing made printing and newspaper business a 
life study. His politics are Republican. His 
father. Judge William Gapen, was a delegate 
to the convention at which Abraham Lincoln 
was nominated. 

EDWARD McLERNON is a native of Bel- 
fast, Ireland, and was bo^n October 24, 18-49. 
At the age of nineteen he came to the United 
States where he spent six years teaching in 
New Jersey and Maryland. In 1874 he located 
at Lexington, Nebraska, then came to Sidney 
in January of 1877. He was engaged in the 
mercantile business for twenty-one years, and 
has been Postmaster at Sidney for thirteen 
months past. In 1884 he was married to Miss 
Jane Darrow but she died four years later. His 
present wife was Miss Emma Johnson of Des 
Moines, to whom he was married in 1893. He 
has a ranch of four sections stocked with 
horses. 

J. L. McINTOSH is a son of J. J .Mcintosh 
and was born April 11, 1874 at Antelope, Ne- 
braska. He was educated at the University of 
Notre Dame, Indiana, from which he gradu- 
ated in 1889 and at the LTniversity of Michi- 
gan where he graduated from the law depart- 
ment in 1893. He has an extensive law prac- 
tice, and has also been Register of the United 
States Land Office. His politics are Republi- 
can. His wife was Miss Rose Pavlot, whom 
he married in 1898. 

J. J. McINTOSH was born at St. Andrews, 
Canada, on June 17, 1850. As a young man he 
came to Nebraska thirtv-five vears asfo. He is 



owner of the American Bank of Sidney, and 
has large real estate interests. He served ten 
years as County Clerk, four years as County 
Treasurer and one year as County Commis- 
sioner. Was nominated for Congress by the 
Democrats of the Sixth Congressional District 
in 1892, but owing to an imperfection in his 
citizenship, was ineligible. His first wife, 
.Mary H. Mcintosh, died in 1875. His present 
wife was Miss Marv A. Kelly of Grand Island. 

WILLIAM P. MILES is a practicing law- 
yer at Sidney, Nebraska, to which place he 
moved in 1874. His native state is Massa- 
chusetts, and he was born May 23, 1856. He 
was graduated from Hopkinton Academy, 
.Massachusetts, in 1872 and after studying law 
in the office of Norval & Mcintosh of Sidney, 
was admitted to the bar in 1887. He has had 
])ractice in all the courts, both State and Fed- 
eral. For four years he was County Attorney 
and in 1904 was a delegate to the National Re- 
])ublican Convention from the Sixth Congres- 
sional District. He had been chosen to pre- 
sent the name of John L. Webster to the con- 
vention as Vice-President, but Mr. Webster's 
name was withdrawn before roll call. In 1901 
1 e married Miss Eva Whitman. 

MARK SPANOGLE was born April 27, 
1868 in Lewiston, Pennsylvania, son of An- 
drew J. Spanogle. He received his education 
in the common schools and is a graduate of 
the Law Department of Drake University, 
Iowa. During 1900 and 1901 he was County 
.\ttorney of Clay County, Nebraska. He is 
now Cashier of the Bridgeport Bank, Bridge- 
port, Nebraska, his present home, and is the 
County Attorney of Cheyenne County. 



CLAY COUNTY. 



Seven years of the early history of Clay 
County was taken up almost entirely by dis- 
putes as to the location of the county seat. 
Harvard, Sutton and Fairfield figured promi- 
nently in this contest. After so many years of 
contention, Claj' Center was finally selected as 
the capital of the county. The bison, wolf and 
antelope were undisputed possessors of this 
land before the first permanent settler arrived 
in the person of John B. Weston in 1857, who 
was in after years an auditor of Nebraska. At 
that time he lived in a log house on the Little 
Blue River. Clay County was organized in 
1871. It has now a population of 15.735 and 



an area of 576 sq. miles. Ninety-five per cent 
of the land is tillable and the remainder makes 
good pasturage. In 1899 its yield of wheat was 
greater than that of any other county in Ne- 
braska. The Siou.x Indians made a great deal 
of trouble for the early settlers. The first per- 
manent court-house was built in 1880 at an 
expense of $22,000. In 1881 there were 3,827 
school children in the county while in 1902 
there were 5,600. The climate and soil condi- 
tions make the culture of fruit and the growing 
of trees very profitable. 

R. H. SMITH was born in Peoria County, 
Illinois, April 10, 1858. and moved to Clay 



I 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



189 








CHARLES I-, COONS. II. C. I'.M.MER. GEORGE A. ALLEN. F. T. SWANSflN. 



W.W. CAMPBELL. 




p. 


!«, -, • 


\: 


^ 



lt% 



LESI/-E G. IICRD. 



-\MBl;uaE C. Eri'EltSUN. 



^1^!^ ^, ' "Wt.^ ¥-, ^ ."*'<*i' ' 




Clay County Court House 

County, Nebraska, in 1895. He was educated 
in Amity College, College Springs, Iowa, and 
has followed the occupation of farming since 
his arrival in Clav Center. He is affiliated 



. SMITH. CHARLES M. PRICKETT. N. W. JOHNSON. 

with the Republican party and has been elect- 
ed Sheriff. 

GEORGE A. ALLEN was born in Toledo, 
Ohio, September 3, 1840. In 1857 he removed 
to Sandusky County, Ohio, in 1860 to St. 
Louis, Missouri, later to LaGrange, Indiana, 
and in 1873 to Clay County, Nebraska, where 
he engaged in farming and stock raising. He 
studied at the Normal School, Indiana, and 
during the Civil War was a member of the 
Seventh Indiana Cavalry. He is married and 
has twelve childreiL is a member of the Re- 
publican party which elected him Clerk of the 
District Court. 

AMBROSE C. EPPERSON was born in 
McDonough County, Illinois, November IS, 
1S70. He came from his native town to Clay 
County in 1880. He began to practice law 
after his graduation from the Fairfield Nor- 
mal and the Law Department of the State 
University in 1891. He has been County At- 
torney during four terms and is affiliated with 
the Repubhcan party. He is also State Lec- 
turer for the Modern Woodmen of America. 

CHARLES L. COONS was born in Knox- 
ville, Iowa, August 2, 1868. In 189-i he re- 
moved to Des Moines, in 1899 to Peru, Ne- 



IDU 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



braska, in 1900 to Edgar and in 190-1 came to 
Gay Center. He received his education in 
Western Normal, Shenandoah, Iowa, the Ne- 
braska State Normal and Drake University, 
Iowa. He is connected with the Democratic 
party and was elected County Superintendent 
of Schools by a large majority. 

H. C. PALMER was born in Baraboo, Wis 
consin, April 27, 1854. He came to Nebraska 
March 14, 1874, where he studied law with E. 
E. Hairgrave of Sutton, after completing his 
high school work. He is a member of the Peo- 
ple's Independent party and is now serving his 
fourth term as County Judge of Clay County. 

W. W. CAMPBELL was born in Wood- 
stock, Illinois, September 11, 1868, of Ameri- 
can ancestry. In 1879 he came to Harvard, 
Nebraska and in 1902 settled near Clay Center, 
where he engaged in farming. He was edu- 
cated in Milton College, Wisconsin, and took 
a commercial course in Burlington, Iowa, at 
the Elliott Business College. He is a member 
of the Republican party and has served as 
County Clerk two terms. 

F. T. SW ANSON was born in Clay County, 
Nebraska, thirty-one years ago and has resided 
there ever since. His parents were of Swedish 
descent and had farmed in Clay County for a 
number of years. Mr. Swanson occupied him- 
self with the farm and clerking after he had 
completed a course in the Lincoln Business 
College. He was Deputy County Treasurer 
for four vears and at the end of that time was 



elected County Treasurer, receiving the larg- 
est majority of any one on the county ticket. 
He is a member of the Democratic party. 

CHARLES M. PRICKETT was born in 
Ringwood, McHenry County, Illinois, May 
32, 1851. Attending the University of Illinois 
for three years, he took up the profession of 
civil engineering. From 1877 to 1884 he was 
engaged in the survey of United States Public 
Lands in Dakota Territory, coming to Fairfield 
the next year. He is a member of the Repub- 
lican party and has held several offices. Has 
been United States Deputy Surveyor, Clerk, 
Member of the Board of Education and Sur- 
veyor of Clay County. 

N. W. JOHNSON was born in Switzerland 
County, Indiana, November 4, 1863. In 1880 
he removed to Harlan County, Nebraska, and 
two years later came to Clay County, where he 
engaged in farming. There was no railroad 
between Harlan and Clay Counties at that 
time, so Mr. Johnson walked the distance in 
search of work. He is connected with the Re- 
publican party and in 1903 was elected County 
Assessor. 

LESLIE G. HURD was born in Stark 
County, Illinois, January 23, 1851, and in 1874 
removed to Clay County where he has since 
resided. He was educated in Wheaton Col- 
lege, remaining there through the Junior year. 
He was elected State Senator in 1889 by the 
Republican party and is now District Judge of 
the Seventh District. 



COLFAX COUNTY. 



In 1856 a company was formed in Omaha 
for the express purpose of founding a city at 
some point on the Platte. At length a town 
site was platted on Shell Creek, a few miles 
east of Schuyler. The town was christened 
Buchanan, and a few buildings were erected, 
but North Bend and other flourishing towns 
lured away its few inhabitants and Buchanan 
became a thing of the past. Colfax is one of 
the prosperous eastern counties situated in the 
valley of the Platte. It has been estimated 
that it occupies almost the exact geographical 
center of the United States. It has a popula- 
tion of 11,211 and an area of 410 sq. miles. 
The Union Pacific R. R. was the first road to 
be laid. Before its advent there were not 
more than twelve families in the county. The 
trains were at first very irregular, passing 



through usually at night. The mail bag was 
thrown ofif in the darkness anywhere in the 
vicinity of the post-office which placed heavy 
responsibilities on the Buchanan post-master. 
At one time a band of Indians carried oflf the 
bag and were caught trying to sell the letters 
to some workmen. Colfax County was orig- 
inally a part of Platte County, but in 1869 it 
was established as a separate county. Its 
county seat is Schuyler. One of the first im- 
provements in the county was a bridge built 
across the Platte near Schuyler. This bridge 
was 1,350 feet long and was an expense of 
$65,000. It was an important agent in estab- 
lishing communication between Colfax and 
Butler Counties. This county is a good hay 
region. Corn seems to grow here better than 
wheat. The rich grasses in the Platte Valley 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



191 







JOHN E. ARNOLD. 



JOHN CHLKBOl'N. Jr. 



E. E. GREENMAN. 



F. C. E(JKirrcjN. 




Coltax County Court House. Photo by Fenne 



^^B^^^^^^^ and the springs and streams make stock-rais- 

^^^%i^^^^^ profitable. 

^^^^^H GEORGE W. WERTZ was born in Greene 

^^ft^HH^H County, Illinois, April 3, 1868. He left Illinoi'^ 

in 1880 and came to Nebraska, having resided 

here since. He is a graduate of the High 
.School at Kearney, Nebraska, and studied law schools at Clarkson, Nebraska, and at the Fre- 
in the University of Iowa. He was married mont Normal College, graduating from the 
June 29, 1896 to Lottie V. Guernsey of Daw- Teacher's course in 1898, from the Scientific 
son County, Nebraska. Mr. Wertz is an at- in 1901 and from the Didactic in 1903. Mr. 
torney at law and has served his first term as Chleboun has taught three and one-half years. 
Attorney of Colfax County. He is a member [)art of the time in the high school. Politi- 
of the Republican party. cally he is a Democrat and is serving his first 

JOHN CHLEBOUN, Jr., is a native of term as Superintendent of Colfax County. He 
Nebraska, having been born in Saunders was married to Miss Bessie Winchel in 1903. 
County, December 7, 1878. He has always F. A. SUCHA was born June 14, 1875, in 

lived in Nebraska and settled in Colfax County Shelby County, Illinois, and in his fifth year 
in 1892. He was educated in the common came to Nebraska, receiving his education in 



J p. MAPLE 



rRL\H LONG. 



192 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



the public schools of Colfax County and the 
Fremont Normal College, graduating from the 
latter in the scientific course in 1899. He has 
spent five years in teaching, and is now serving 
his second' term as Clerk of the District Court 
of Colfax County, being of the Populist faith. 
He was married to Miss Julia Ternes of Colfax 
Countv in 1900 and they have one son and one 
daughter. Mr. Sucha is of Bohemian parent- 
age, his father having come to America in 
1853 and his mother in 1855. His father is a 
veteran of the Civil War, having served in the 
Fifty-first Missouri Volunteers. 

M. T. HIGGINS is a native of Nebraska, 
having been born February 22, 1875 in Col- 
fax County, where he has since lived. He 
was educated in the high school at Schuyler, 
Nebraska, and is a graduate of both the Busi- 
ness and Teacher's Departments of the Fre- 
mont Normal College. His parents are of 
Irish birth and after residing in Illinois for a 
time, came to Nebraska in 1872. Mr. Higgins 
was married to Assina Gaughen in 1901 and 
they have one child. Previous to his election 
as County Treasurer, he was Deputy County 
Treasurer for four years. 

J. P. MAPLE was born on a farm in Colfax 
County, Nebraska, August 12, 1868, and he 
has always resided in the county. His par- 
ents came to Nebraska about 18G1 and his 
father was one of the first Commissioners of 
Colfax County, having been elected in 18G9. 
Mr. Maple was educated in the high school 
of Schuyler, Nebraska, and has been. engaged 
in farming. He was married to Miss Anna A. 
Roesler, February 12, 1890 and has three chil- 
dren. Mrs. Maple died in February, 1904. He 
has been elected to the office of Clerk of Col- 
fax County for a second term by the Fu- 
sionists. 

G. H. WELLS is a native of Canada, hav- 
ing been born May 18, 1841 in Nova Scotia, 
where he remained until 1863, when he came 
to Massachusetts. He returned to Prince Ed- 
ward Island and after residing there for a time 
came to Nebraska in 1869. He received his 
education in the Sackville Academy of New 
Brunswick. Mr. Wells was married in 1880 to 
Anna Albertson and they have two daughters. 
During President Harrison's administration 
he was appointed Postmaster and has served 
as Sheriff' of Colfax County for eight years. 



He is now serving his second term as Judge 
of Colfax County, having been elected on the 
Republican ticket. 

F. C. EGERTON was born August 19, 
1853, in Grant County, Wisconsin, later he re- 
moved to Iowa and then to Nebraska in 1868. 
His mother died when he was a baby, and 
when his father enlisted in the war, Mr. Eger- 
ton was obliged to make his own way. He 
has been in the West and used to freight in 
the mountains, but for the last twenty-three 
years has lived in Colfax County and is now 
engaged in the livery business. He is a Re- 
publican and is serving his first term as County 
Commissioner. Mr. Egerton was married in 
November, 1888, to Annie Spidle, who died 
four years later. In 1898 he was married to 
Sadie Hockett. 

E. E. GREENMAN was born January 16, 
1852, in Sturgis, St. Joseph County, Michigan, 
from whence he removed to Nebraska in Sep- 
tember of 1867. He received his education in 
the schools at Sturgis and Hillsdale, Michigan. 
He served through the Civil War in the Nine- 
teenth Regiment of the Michigan Infantry. 
Mr. Greenman is a member of the Republican 
party and has been Surveyor of Colfax County 
during thirty-five years of the County's or- 
ganization and has been City Engineer of 
Schuyler since its incorporation. 

LfRIAH LONG was born in Pennsylvania, 
January 3, 1831. He received his M. D. at 
Bellwin College, New York, and has since 
practiced his chosen profession. In 1865 he 
married Miss M. E. Klingmann and they have 
five children. Dr. Long has been a member of 
the City Council, City Physician and a mem- 
ber of the Board of Health and is now serving 
his second term as Coroner of Colfax County. 
He is affiliated with the Democratic partv. 

JOHN E. ARNOLD was born January 28, 
1855, in Appleton, Maine, where he received 
his education in the Common Schools. He 
was married to Ella C. Huntley of Philadel- 
phia in 1885. He now lives in Schuyler, Ne- 
braska, where he is engaged in the banking 
business. Mr. Arnold was the last Clerk of 
the village of Schuyler and the first Clerk of 
the city of Schuyler and is now serving his 
second term as Mayor of that city. He is a 
Republican and was Grand Master of the I. O. 
O. F. of Nebraska in 1898 and 1899. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



193 




JOSEPH SMITH 



J F. KAVP. -WILLIAM H. HARSTICK. CHAS Wc'DKiiMOTI. JOSEPH C. PINKER. 




J. A. STAHL. 





FRED SONNENSCHEIN. 



Cuming County Court House. Photo by Koupal, West Point 
CUMING COUNTY. 



Cuming County is favorably situated in the 
northeastern part of the state in the EIl<horn 
Valley. The soil is mostly a rich vegetable 
mold with a clay subsoil, and it is of such con- 
sistency that what is known as "baked soil" is 
never found here. Corn is grown extensively. 
In the year of 1902, 400 acres were planted 
with sugar beets. Since 1897 the value of land 
in this county has increased 40 per cent. Good 
limestone is found at West Point. Clay for 
brick making is also quite plentiful in the 
county. The first settlers were Benjamin 
Moore and family in 1856. In 1857 the "Ne- 
braska Settlement Association" chose a town- 
site on the Elkhorn River, and West Point 
was soon established. When the county was 
organized in 1858, this town was made county 
seat without controversy and its po])ulation is 



today 1,890. So many of the inhabitants left 
the county during the discouraging years of 
1859 and 1860, that two years after the organ- 
ization, the official records show only five 
voters. These few remained, however, and 
conditions began steadily to improve, until in 
18G6 there was a large "boom" throughout the 
county. The coming in of the Elkhorn Valley 
railroad just at this time was an important 
factor in the permanent prosperity and there 
are now 36.33 miles of railway. The first 
church building which was erected in the 
county was built by the Catholics in St. 
Charles Precinct in 1867. Cuming County had 
its .share in the Indian trouble. What was 
known as the "Pawnee War" was waged here 
during the year of 1859. The present popula- 
tion is 11,584. 



194: 



SEMl-CEXTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



JOSEPH C. PINKER is a native of Aus- 
tria, born July 9, 187G. He came to Cuming 
County in 1881 and was educated in the com- 
mon schools of the county and graduated from 
the Teacher's and Business courses at the 
Fremont Normal College. Until he was seven- 
teen years of age he worked on the farm and 
after that time had been engaged as teacher. 
He is a member of the Democratic party and 
is Clerk of the District Court of Cuming 
County. 

T. F. KAUP was born in Cuming County, 
Nebraska, October 16, 1868. His fahter home- 
steaded in 1861 and served in Company A, 
First Nebraska Volunteers during the Civil 
War. Mr. Kaup was a farmer until he reached 
the age of twenty-two, when he went in to the 
implement business. He is affiliated with the 
Deinocratic party and served two terms as 
Councilman in West Point. He is now Clerk 
of Cuming County. 

LOUIS DEWALD was born in Alsace-Lor- 
raine, Germany, April 11, 1857. He came to 
New York City in 1874 and thence to Cuming 
County six years later, engaging in farming. 
He was educated in the common and high 
schools of Nebraska. He is a member of the 
Democratic party, has held the office of Jus- 
tice of the Peace at Beemer, Nebraska, and has 
served one term as County Judge. 

J. A. STAHL is a native of Pennsylvania, 
having been born in Selina Grove, in 1867, 
where he grew to manhood, receiving his edu- 
cation in the Pennsylvania Academy and 
Classical College and pursuing his studies far- 
ther at the University of Nebraska. He was 
Principal of the Bancroft schools for seven 
years and then was elected to the position of 
County Superintendent of Cuming County, 
now serving his second term. He taught in 
the rural schools for eight years. 

G. A. HELLER is a native of Prussia, the 
date of his birth being December 27, 1847. At 
the age of eighteen he came to Cuming County 
He has been Surveyor continuously for twenty 
years. He had only a few years of school ad- 
vantages but studied surveying and geometry 



at home in his leisure hours. He is engaged 
in the mercantile business at Wisner, aside 
from his official duties. He is a member of 
the Democratic partv. 

JOSEPH SMITH was born in the village 
of Oberhemzendorf in the Province of Mor- 
avia, Austria, January 19, 1861. He came to 
the L'nited States in 1873, living in Baltimore, 
Maryland, and located in Cuming County 
about 1879. He was educated in the common 
schools of Austria and Maryland. Mr. Smith 
is a member of the Democratic party and has 
held the office of Justice of the Peace two 
terms, also Township Assessor, and at present 
is County Assessor of Cuming. 

CHARLES McDERMOTT was born in 
Waukesha County, Wisconsin, March 9, 1858. 
In his sixth year he removed with his parents 
to Dubuque County, Iowa, and five years later 
to cuming County, Nebraska. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools of VV^isconsin, Iowa 
and Nebraska. He has served four years as 
Deputy Sheriff of Cuming County and two 
vears as Deputv Treasurer. 

WILLIAM H. HARSTICK is a native of 
Nebraska, born in Cuming County, January 
2G. 1876. His father is an old settler of Ne- 
braska, having settled here about 186.S. He 
received his education in the public schools 
of Nebraska, and the Fremont Normal College, 
where he pursued the Business, Teacher's and 
Scientific courses. Since that time he has 
taught in Cuming Count}'. He is affiliated 
with the Democratic party and has been ap- 
pointed Deputv Countv Clerk. 

FRED SONNENS'CHEIN was born in 
Prague, Austria, February 6, 1852. When 
thirteen years of age he came to Chicago and 
four years later came to West Point, where he 
has since made his home. Mr. Sonnenschein 
is one of the early settlers of Nebraska and is 
Mayor of W'est Point serving his second term. 
He has held various positions of honor and 
trust, is one of the leading Bohemians of the 
state and always takes a keen interest in pub- 
lic affairs. In politics he is a Republican, in 
business, a real estate broker. 



CUSTER COUNTY. 

The early hi.story of Custer County is made trusions upon rich herding grounds was in- 

up of troubles between the cowboy inhabitants tensely resented by the stock rangers. They 

and the incoming farmers. The first settle- thought the farmers would take possession of 

ments were made in 1877 and 1878. These in- the most fertile river lands, thus cutting off 



J 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



195 




C. O. LIND. IJEORGE B. MAIR. J. E. C.WENEE J- T. WOOD. G. W. APPLE. 




I-. r;. VAN ANTWERT, 





Custer County Court House 




.loSEPH PIGMAN. 




A. R. HrMPHRKV. 



GliOKGE \V. DEWEY. 





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D. C. KONKET,. 



W. H. COMSTOCK. SAR U 1 ETI WEST-COMSTOCK. J. A. ARMOUR. 



196 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




J. G. W. LEWIS. W. A. GEORGE. 



J. .1 DOTGLASS. D. V. JUYXEIt. JAMES WHITEHEAD. 



the water supply and eventually curtailing 
stock raising on a large scale. j\Jany cattle 
stealers came annually and carried off car- 
loads of stock from the helpless owners. Be- 
cause of their antipathy for the settlers the 
cowlioys credited them with these crimes, and 
in their rage allowed their herds to trample 
the fields of the farmers. Feeling rose high, 
and the cowboys determined to drive the set- 
tlers from the country, which resulted in the 
murder of two of the inhabitants. Stock rais- 
ing land, however, was gradually limited by 
settlements. Custer County is a tract of land 
in the central part of the state, comprising 
2,592 square miles which was organized as a 
county in 1SS7. In 1900 this county was given 
second place in the state in its live stock which 
was valued at $3,850,009. The population of 
the county numbers 19,758, and the county 
seat. Broken Bow, has 1,375 people. At pres- 
ent there are 7,696 children of school age. 

J. G. ^\■. LEWIS came in 1879 to Custer 
County where his father homesteaded. He 
was born in LaSalle County, Illinois, Decem- 
ber 17, 1876. His parents, Moses and Martha 
Lewis, are among the oldest settlers of Custer. 
Moses Lewis served three years in the Civil 
War in an Illinois regiment. He was gradu- 
ated from the Broken Bow High School in 
1894 and from Grand Island College in the 
class of 1900. He is serving his second term 
as Superintendent of Custer County schools 
He is affiliated with the Republican party. 

GEORGE W. DEWEY, was born August 
13, 1857 at Rockford, Illinois, where he was 
educated in the public and high schools. In 
the winter of 1876 his parents moved to Kan- 
sas and after six years residence there, he 
came to Custer County, where he still lives. 
He is now serving his second term as County 
Clerk He was formerly County Supervisor 



during eight years, and has also held several 
city offices in Broken Bow which is his home 
He is engaged in farming and ranching He 
was married to Miss Mary Alice Sweeney of 
Kansas June 17, 18S1. His father, who died in 
1871, served in the war of ISli in the Vermont 
Cavalrv. 

GEORGE B. MAIR is one of the pioneer 
newspaper men of Custer County. He was a 
printer in Chicago for seven years before com- 
ing to Custer County in 1887, and is now edi- 
tor of the Courier. His home state is 
Wisconsin, where he was born at Waupin, 
August 3, 1851. In 1875 he was graduated 
from the high school at Portage, Wisconsin 
and from the Eastman Business College at 
New York in 1876. He was Postmaster at 
Callaway. Custer County for four years, and 
is now Clerk of the District Court. In politics 
he is a Republican. His wife's maiden name 
was Miss Jennie R. Douglas and they were 
married in 1889. 

J. A. ARMOUR was the first lawyer to prac- 
tice in Custer County and is still practicing 
his profession. He was born in ^lacoupin 
County, Illinois, July 11, 1854. He was grad- 
uated from the academic course of the Wash- 
ington Universitj- at St. Louis in 1S78, and 
from the law department in 1880. After this, 
he removed to Clay County, Nebraska, for a 
year and to Custer County in 1S8L He home- 
steaded here in 1884, but sold the land after 
holding it for eighteen years. He is ser\-ing 
his fourth term as County Judge and was 
elected on the Republican ticket. In 1882 he 
was married to Miss Ettie \'arney of this 
county. 

W. A. GEORGE was born in Massachusetts 
May 12, 1861 and has lived in Custer County 
since 1886. His father was one of the colony 
which first settled Buffalo County in 1871. 



i\ 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



197 



Mr. George was educated in the Gibbon 
schools and at Gibbon Academy. He was 
County Commissioner for six years and is now 
serving his second term as County Treasurer. 
He is engaged in the mercantile and ranching 
business and he recently sold 33,000 acres of 
ranch land stocked with cattle. His mercan- 
tile business consists of a grocery store and 
department store, both of which are located at 
Broken Bow. He is also owner of the George- 
town Roller Mill. 

C O. LIND is a farmer and ranchman of 
Custer County, his ranch interests consisting 
of !HiO acres of land stocked with cattle. He 
was born in Sweden on the thirty-first of Aug- 
ust, 1861 and came with his parents to the 
United States in July of 1883. After living for 
two years in Polk and Colfax Counties, he 
moved to Custer County, which has since been 
his home. He has held several township of- 
fices, was Chairman of the Board of Super- 
visors for three years and is now filling the 
office of Register of Deeds. He is affiliated 
with the Republican party. In 1889 he mar- 
ried Miss Betty Peterson of Custer County. 

C. U. RICHARDSON was a soldier in the 
Confederate Army. When the war broke out 
he enlisted in the Seventh Virginia Cavalry 
and served till the surrender of General Lee 
at Appomattox. He was born in the Shenan- 
doah Valley in November of 1847. He moved 
to Missouri in 1872 and came to Nebraska in 
1879. After five years in Nemaha County he 
permanently located in Custer County. His 
occupation is in the livery business and the 
management of stage lines under government 
contract. He served four years as Deputy 
Sheriff of Custer County before he was elected 
to his present office of Sherifif. He is a Popu- 
list and although the county is largely Re- 
publican, he received a good majority. In 1880 
lie married a Mrs. Field of Missouri. 

J. E. CAVENEE was born in Perry County, 
Ohio, July 29, 1851. ^Vhen he was five years 
old his parents moved to Iowa where he lived 
until he came to Custer County in May of 
1878. Howe's Academy at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, 
contributed to his education. Mr. Cavenee is 
a ranchman and has about one thousand acres 
of land stocked with cattle and horses. He 
pre-empted a homestead and tree claim in 1878 
which is still his possession. He served as 
Coimty Supervisor for eight years, and he is 
affiliated with the Republican party. In 1890 
he married Mrs. .Mice Wriarht of Iowa. 



D. C. KONKEL came to Custer County in 
April of 1879 and has since made this his home. 
His birth occurred while his parents were liv- 
ing in Sank County, Wisconsin, December 16, 
1856. He homesteaded in this county in 1879 
on which land he farmed until two years ago, 
when he entered the revenue service. On the 
nineteenth of December, 1881, he married Miss 
Anna Albert of Wisconsin. He is now Deputy 
Revenue Collector for the District of Nebraska, 
Seventh Division. 

JAMES WHITEHEAD was born in Aug- 
ust of 1846 in Racine County, Wisconsin, from 
which state he came to Custer County, Ne- 
braska, in the winter of 1883. He took a home- 
stead in the spring of 1884 and lived on it six 
years vmtil he was appointed receiver in the 
newly organized land office at Broken Bow. 
He was elected to the Legislature in the fall 
of 1888. In July of 1889 he was appointed 
Deputy Collector of Internal Revenue and was 
holding that position when he received his 
present appointment as Receiver in the United 
States Land Office. In 1892 he was nominated 
by the Republican party as candidate for Con- 
gress. After two years residence at Lincoln 
he moved to Broken Bow, where he has been 
Receiver in the United States Office for four 
years. He served several years in the Civil 
War, having enlisted before he was sixteen. 
He married Hanna Eagleston, December 31, 
1867. 

J. J. DOUGLASS is one of the thirteen men 
who organized the County of Custer in the 
summer of 1877. He was born in Sabina, 
( )hio, March 17, 1845. He came to Richard- 
son County, Nebraska, in 1868 and to Custer 
County in 1875. He has a farm of 560 acres 
west of Callaway and is also engaged in stock 
raising. He was Clerk of District Court from 
1888 to 1892 and has been Postmaster at Calla- 
way for the past seven years although his term 
is now ended. In January of 1892 he married 
Miss May Taylor. 

G. W. APPLE is proprietor of a large har- 
ness, hardware and implement store at Broken 
Bow, Nebraska. His birth occurred in York 
County, Pennsylvania, August 3, 1855. In the 
spring of 1878 he came west and lived at Dun- 
lap, Iowa, where he lived for six years before 
coming to Custer County in 1886. Since April 
5, 1904 Mr. Apple has been Mayor of the city 
and has filled several other city offices. He is 
President of the Broken Bow Business Men's 
Association and is a Republican. In 1891 he 



198 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



was married to Miss Alice Crawford of In- 
diana. His father enlisted in a Pennsylvania 
regiment as a private in 1864 and was dis- 
charged in June of 1865 as Orderly Sergeant. 

A. R. HUMPHREY was born February 18, 
1858 near Madison, Indiana. He moved to 
Iowa in 1864 and after living there nineteen 
years came to Nebraska in 1883. He was edu- 
cated at Iowa University and graduated from 
the law course in 1882. In the same year he 
was admitted to the bar and he began practic- 
ing in Custer County in 1884. For four years 
he was State Land Commissioner at Lincoln. 
In 1883 he was married to Nellie Nightingale 
of Bloomfield, Iowa. He holds the office of 
County Attornev and is a Republican. 

F. E. VAN ANTWERP was born August 
27, 1854 at St. Charles, Illinois, from which 
place he moved to Nebraska in 1880 and Cus- 
ter County has since been his home. He took 
a homestead at that time which he still holds. 
He is a professional surveyor and engineer, 
having taken a course in this work at Chicago 
University. At Lode, Nebraska, he was Post- 
master and has been Justice of the Peace and 
Deputy Surveyor of Custer. He is now serv- 
ing his third term as County Surveyor and he 
is allied with the Republican party. In 1876 
he married Hester Lathrop of Rockford, Illi- 
nois. 

JOSEPH PIGMAN was born on Independ- 
ence Day of 1862 in Green County, Indiana, 
and has worked his own way since he was 
fourteen. His father was a veteran of the 
Mexican War, having served in an Ohio regi- 
ment. He began teaching at seventeen and 
taught five years in Indiana, before coming to 
Nebraska in 1884. He continued his teaching 
in this state until he accepted the office of 
Deputy County Clerk, which he has held since 
January of 1902. He acquired his advanced 
education at Bloomfield Academy in Indiana, 
which he attended for two years. His political 
sympathies are with the Republican party. He 
was married to Miss Hattie A. George of Kear- 
ney, Nebraska, Novemlier 27, 1881. 

D. V. JOYNER has been engaged in cleri- 
cal work for some time and is now Deputy 
County Treasurer of Custer County, serving 
his third term. He was Deputy County Clerk 
of Howard Countv, Nebraska, two vears and 



Clerk in the United States Land Office at 
Broken Bow four years. He came to Custer 
County from Taylor, New York, his native 
town, in 1880. He was born July 8, 1857 and 
he acquired his education at the Cincinnatus 
Academy, New York and at the State Normal 
at Cortland. He taught school before his mar- 
riage to Miss Emma Robbins in 1879. He has 
been publisher and managing editor of several 
newspapers and his politics is Republican. 

J. T. WOOD was born June 19, 186S at 
Greenville, Michigan, and came to Custer 
County, Nebraska with his father in 18S5. 
Here his father homesteaded, but is now living 
at Mason City. Mr. Wood was educated in 
the public schools of Michigan. He resides at 
Broken Bow, where he is Deputy Register of 
Deeds. He was a candidate for nomination as 
County Clerk in the Republican Convention 
of 1902 and stood next to the leading candi- 
date. He married Miss Belle Bryan on the 
sixth of April, 1901. 

W. H. COMSTOCK homesteaded in what 
is now Custer County in the spring of 1874 
and made the third filing in the county. He 
was the first Postmaster of Custer County and 
held the office at Douglas Grove and Wescott 
for a period of twenty-six years. The town of 
Comstock, which is his present home, was 
named in his honor. He held several town- 
ship offices, being first Justice of the Peace and 
was Captain of the Home Guard, organized for 
defense against the Indians. He is still called 
"Captain Comstock." He was born in New 
York, Ontario County, February 29, 1836. At 
the age of eighteen he moved to Wisconsin 
and after eleven years there he went to Min- 
nesota. After seven years in that state, he re- 
moved to Iowa in 1873 and in 1874 he located 
in Custer County, Nebraska, where he is now 
engaged in the real estate business. Enlisted 
in October of 1861 in Company E, Second Wis- 
consin Cavalry and served until Lee's sur- 
render. 

AIRS. SARAHETT WEST-COMSTOCK 
was born April 15, 1841 in Jefiferson County, 
Wisconsin, in which state she lived until mar- 
ried to Mr. Comstock in 1859. In the early 
days of Custer County as well as in later years, 
her home has been justly popular since all trav- 
elers have received a warm welcome there. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



199 







EFFIE ENGELEN. 



GEO. WILKINS. 



L. B. BLANCHARD. 



W. L. ROSS. 







GEO. J. BOrCHEK. 



J. J [ulMEF.S. H. C. HANSEN. 

DAKOTA COUNTY. 



J. J. M'ALLuSTEU. 



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Dakota County Court Hou«e 
Dakota County was named after the J)a- 
kota Indians. The early settlers were fortu- 
nately spared any very serious trouble from 
this source. The countv was organized in 18.5.5 



with Dakota City as its county seat. For two 
years everything went well. Then the crash 
came, resulting from general depression 
throughout the territory. The wheat crop 
failed, and there was only a partial yield of 
corn. Immigration ceased entirely. In aildi- 
tion to these calamities, in 1858 the settlers 
were forced to "prove up" or sacrifice tlieir 
claims. Many borrowed money at 40 per cent 
ill order to meet their obligations. For sev- 
eral years following, crops were good, and 
prosperity returned. A great variety of forest 
trees abound here and this county surpasses 
almost every other section of the state in the 
value of its woods. The water in wells and 
springs is very clear with but little or no min- 
eral qualities. Dakota County is noted for its 
geological formation known as the "Dakota 
Group." In this formation, sandstone of va- 
rious kinds is found. A very hard cpiartzite is 
present here in large quantities. This is espe- 
cially suitable for the foundations of large 
buildings because of its quality of hardness 



200 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



A peculiar kind of limestone is found which 
makes good building material. There is 
plenty of clay and sand to be used for brick 
and plaster making. The bottom lands of the 
Missouri and the creeks occupy nearly one 
half of the county, and form a very good agri- 
cultural district. Land has increased in value 
20 per cent since 1897, and more than one hun- 
dred farms have been sold in the last two 
vears. There are now 2,355 pupils in the 
county. 

J. J. EIMERS is an lowan, having been 
born in Clay County, January 29, 1871. He 
removed to South Sioux City in 1888 and two 
years later went to the Black Hills and after 
a short residence there, returning to South 
Sioux City, where he has since remained. He 
attended school at Storm Lake. Iowa, and now 
publishes the Record of South Sioux City. He 
is affiliated with the Republican party and, is 
serving his third term as County Judge oi Da- 
kota County. 

J. J. McAllister emigrated from Ire- 
land, his native country, to America at the age 
of eleven, settling in Dubuque County, Iowa, 
later came to Dixon County, Nebraska, and 
settled in Dakota County in 1890. Mr. Mc- 
Allister received his education in St. Mary's 
College, Kentucky. He is connected with the 
Democratic party and has been County Attor- 
ney of Dixon County two terms and is serving 
his fourth term as County Attorney for Da- 
kota County. 

H. H. ADAIR was born in Dakota City, 
Nebraska, October 5, 1879. He received his 
education in the Sioux City High School and 
Morningside College, graduating in 1901. 
Since then he has been assistant principal in 
Dakota City High School, and was elected 
Clerk of the District Court. Mr. .Adair's 
father was among the very early settlers of 
Dakota County, having taken out a home- 
stead in 1856. Mr. Adair is a member of the 
Republican party. 

\V. L. ROSS was born in Green County, 
Wisconsin, June 9, 1866. In 1877 he came to 
Emerson, Nebraska and settled at Dakota City 
in 1893, engaging in the lumber business. In 
1900 he married Miss Jennie Engelen and they 
have two children. He is a member of the 
Republican party and before his election to 
tlie nfficc of County Clerk, managed the lumber 
yard at Emerson and was in business in Da- 
kota City. 

H. C. HANSEN was born in Denmark. De- 



cember 15, 1861. In 1881 he came to the 
L'nited States, living in Council Bluffs, Iowa, 
for a time, and in 1883 settled in Dakota 
County, at first following tlie trade of black- 
smith and later that of farming. He was edu- 
cated chiefly in Denmark and partly in the 
L'nited States. In 1895 he married Miss Kirs- 
ten Rasmussen and has five children. He has 
held the office of school trustee and in 1903 
was elected Sheriff by the Citizens" party. 

GEORGE J. BOUCHER was born in'Cher- 
okee County, Iowa, September 20, 1872. In 
1S95 he came to Dakota City, Nebraska. He 
gained his education in Cherokee County pub- 
lic schools and in Sioux City, Iowa, where he 
took a college course. He married Miss Jennie 
I'ilgrim in 1902 and they have one son. He 
is connected with the Republican party and has 
served two terms as County Superintendent of 
Public Instruction in Dakota County. He has 
also been Principal of schools in Homer. 

FRED BLUME was born in Germany, 
.\pril 25, 1855. When fourteen j-ears of age 
he came to Dakota County, Nebraska. In 
1893 he married Miss Amelia W'allwey and 
has four children. He received his education 
in Germany chiefly, and completed it in Ne- 
braska. He has held several positions o'f trust 
— County Commissioner, Precinct Assessor 
and County Treasurer. Mr. Blume is a Re- 
]niblican. and is one of the early settlers of 
Nebraska. 

L. B. BLANCILARD is a native of Pennsyl- 
\ania, born in Crawford County, February 26, 
1857. In 1878 he came to Dakota County, en- 
gaging in farming. He was educated in the 
l)ublic schools of Pennsylvania. In 1883 he 
married Miss .^nna Sierk and has two children. 
He is in the Republican party, has been Justice 
of the Peace and is County Commissioner, 
serving his second term. 

MISS EFFIE ENGELEN. Deputy County 
Clerk, was born in Powesheik County, Iowa, 
January 27, 1872. She moved to Emerson, Ne- 
braska, with her parents in 1880 and in 189G 
came to Dakota City, where she has since re- 
mained. She was educated in the Emerson 
High School and has taken work in summer 
schools. ?\Iiss Engelen has taught in Dakota 
City schools for some time, and has been ap- 
pointed Deputy County Clerk. 

GEORGE WILKINS was born m Homer. 
Nebraska, June 23, 1883, where he has since 
lived, farming and clerking. He received his 
education in the public schools of Dakota 



i 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



201 



County and in the National Business Training 
School at Sioux City, Iowa. He is a member 
of the Republican party and has been appointed 



Deputy County Treasurer. Mr. Wilkins was 
one of the employes of Ashford Brothers' Gen- 
eral Merchandise store before his appointment. 



DAWES COUNTY. 



Dawes County was organized in 1885 with 
an area of 1,404 square miles. A good deal of 
land in Dawes County is untillable on account 
of its rough surface ; the tillable land is mostly 
a clay loam. Along the foothills in the south- 
ern part of the county there is considerable 
pine timber. Some land is irrigated in the val- 
ley of the White River. Good drainage is fur- 
nished by the White River and its tributaries, 
the Alkali, Bush, Lone Tree, Big Cottonwood, 
Little Cottonwood, Beaver, Dry, Bordeaux, 
Chadron, Dead ]\Ian, Trunk Butte, Indian and 
Hooker Creeks, and b}' the Niobrara and it^ 
branches, the Pepper, Cottonwood, and Willow 
Creeks. The supply of water from wells, six 
to three hundred feet in depth, is abundant. 
Farming is carried on successfully on the table- 
land. Some wheat, rye, corn, oats and barley 
are raised and potatoes do well. Hay is the 
principal crop and 1,132 acres are devoted to 
the culture of alfalfa. Many cattle, horses and 
sheep are raised on the large ranches ; the value 
of live stock in 1900 was $159,.355.00. There 
are two flouring and grist mills and one brick- 
vard in the county. Five years ago there was 
little demand for farms and ranches, but such 
as are in the market have increased in value 
twenty-five per cent. There are 90.79 miles of 
railway. The county has four towns — Chad 
ron, the county seat, with a population of 
l.fi6.5; Crawford, 731; Ft. Robinson, 185, and 
Whitney, 51 inhabitants. The county has 6,815 
inhabitants. 

C. L. FREEMAN was born in Omaha, May 
8, 1873, and three years later came to what is 
now Dawes County with his parents, his father 
being manager of the Prost Traders' Store at 
Fort Robinson. He has spent most of his life 
in the county, having been educated at the 
Crawford High School and Chadron Academy. 
In 1897 he married Miss Kate M. Buncher, and 
they have two children. He has been engaged 
in the mercantile business and was elected 
Clerk of the District Court on the Repulilican 
ticket. 

C. DANA SAYRS was born in Alexandria. 
Virginia, May 15, 1839. He was educated in 
Hollowell's Institute. In 1857 he went to Kan- 



sas and later to Idaho, where he was admitted 
to the bar. He was a member of the Idaho 
Legislature in 1866. He returned to Kansas, 
where he was County Attorney of Crawford 
County from 1880 to 1885 and in 1887 he came 
to Chadron, Nebraska, where he was post- 
master from 1893 to 1898. He is now serving 
his second term as Judge of Dawes County, 
having been elected on the Republican ticket. 

R. G. SMITH is a native of Iowa, having 
been born in Cedar County, November 4, 1855, 
where he was educated in the public schools. 
In 1889 he went to Kansas and the next year 
to Nebraska, where he has since made his 
home, engaging in the hardware business. In 
1895 he was married to Miss Mettie Lawrence 
and they have three daughters. He has been 
elected County Clerk on the Democratic ticket. 

T. S. SMITH is a native Nebraskan, having 
been born on a farm in Burt County, August 
31, 1874. In 1885 he came with his parents 
to Dawes County, where he lived until his sev- 
enteenth year. He received his education in 
the Chadron Academy and the Crawford High 
School. He was manager of a lumber yard at 
Crawford, where he was City Clerk. He is a 
Republican and serving his first term as 
County Superintendent. In 1901 he married 
Miss Bertha Mason and they have two chil- 
dren. He served in Company H of the Second 
Nebraska \'^olunteers in the .Spanish-American 
War. 

W. A. BIRDS.\LL, now serving his second 
term as Sheriff, is a pioneer of Dawes County. 
He and his cousin, George Birdsall, put up the 
fourth building in the old town of Chadron on 
White River near where Dakota Junction now 
stands, before the organization of the County. 
They engaged in handling provisions and doing 
a general livery and hack business between 
Valentine and Black Hill points, and have 
identified themselves ever since with the ad- 
vancement of Dawes Countv. 

ERNEST M. SLATTERY was born in 
Shelby County, Missouri, Julv 10, 18G8, came 
to Platte County, Nebraska, in 1872, and grad- 
uated from the Columbus High School in 1885. 
He soon after came to Dawes Countv, studied 



202 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 






T. S. SMITH. W. A. BIRDSA1.L. DUNCAN .MtMILLAN. THARLES NAYI.OR. C. ]. I--HI:KV AN. 





SAMUEL T. MOTE.WILUIAM H. REYNOLDS. WAYNE T. WILSON. ERNEST M. SL.\TTERY. R. G. SMITH. 




Dawes County Court House 



law under Judge Crites of Chadroii and was County in 1890. R'Ir. Slattery is in partnership 

admitted to the bar in 1898. That same year with W. H. Reynolds in the law business and 

he married Miss Maud Foxwell and they have also in ranching, having a ranch in McPherson 

three children. He homesteaded in Dawes County stocked with three hundred head of 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



2U3 



cattle. He is an ex-state senator, is a member 
of the Republican party and is now County 
Attorney. 

WAYNE T. WILSON was born in Newton, 
Iowa, March 21, 1872, from whence he removed 
with his parents in 1884, settling in Dawes 
County. After finishing his course at the Ar- 
kansas State University and special courses 
in private schools, he went into the mercantile 
business at Chadron in 1891. He was marnec! 
to Miss Mary Mace in 1896. Mr. Wilson is 
secretary of the Chadron Commercial Club, has 
been manager and heaviest stockholder in tlie 
Chadron Telephone Company, but sold his in- 
terest before taking up the duties of the office 
of County Treasurer. He is a Republican and 
has served as a member of the City Council. 

DUNCAN McMillan was born in Tar- 
bert, Scotland, November 21, 18G9, and in 1S8C 
came to Detroit, Michigan, with his mother, 
his father having died. Six years later he came 
to Chadron. He was educated at Glasgow, 
Scotland, and Detroit, Michigan, where he 
graduated from the high school in 1886. In 
1896 he took a homestead in Dawes County 
and has been elected City Engineer of Chad- 
ron and is serving his third term as Surveyor 
of Dawes County, having been elected on the 
Republican ticket. He married Miss Vida 
Brockway of ^^'isconsin in 1897 and has four 
children. 

SAMUEL T. MOTE was born in Miami 
County, Ohio, September 25, 1826. In 186.5 
he came to Iowa and in 1889 to Dawes County, 
where he lived in the country until 1896, when 
he came to Chadron. He has been a farmer 
and a school teacher, and was educated in Earl- 
ham College, Indiana. In Ohio he was County 
Commissioner two years, in Iowa was on the 
Board of Supervisors seven years and is now 
serving his second term as County Commis- 
sioner on the Republican ticket in Dawes 
County. He married Miss Anna Macy \n 185 ! 



and has eight children and two great-grand- 
children. 

CHARLES NAYLOR was born in Palmyra, 
Illinois, July 3, 1870, where he lived until his 
'enth year, when he removed with his parents 
to Gage County, Nebraska, livmg there until 
1892, when he went to Lincoln, Nebraska, and 
there was married to Miss lona Sprague. 
They have one son. He homesteaded in Dawes 
County in 1894 and has a ranch of 920 acres, 
stocked with cattle and horses. He is affiliated 
with the Democratic party and has been ap- 
pointed Deputy County Clerk. 

WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS was born in 
Morgan County, Illinois, July 13, 1849. In 
1871 he came to Harrison County, Missouri, 
later to Gentry County, where he helped to 
found the town of Stanberry, putting up the 
third building in the place. He served as 
Mayor, lived in Davis County, in 1884 came to 
Nebraska. He was educated in the academy 
and college at Jacksonville, Illinois. In 1875 
he married Miss Lizzie Waltz and they have 
one daughter. He is associated with E. M. 
Slattery in the law and real estate business, 
and the firm owns a cattle ranch in McPherson 
County. Mr. Reynolds was clerk in the United 
States Land Office in 1901 and County Treas- 
urer in 1901 and 1902. He took an active part 
in the Hayward Senatorial fight when in the 
.State Legislature. 

L. K. "mote was born May 15, 1859. in 
Miami County, Ohio. He came with his par- 
ents to Marshall County, Iowa, in 1865, wlu-re 
he received his education in the Friend^' 
Academy near Marshalltown, Iowa. He came 
to Dawes County in 1886 and homesteaded. 
He is now owner of a transfer line at Chadron 
and has been Chief of the fire department 
there. He is a Republican and is serving his 
second term as Deputy Sheriff. He was mar- 
ried to Miss Carrie E. Gifford of Marshall 
County, Iowa, in 1886, and they liave five chil- 
dren. 



DAWSON COUNTY. 



Dawson County was organized in 1871 with 
an area of 1.028 square miles. In 1861 the tele- 
graph v^as extended through this part of the 
country and the only instance in which it was 
tampered with by the Indians occurred in 
this county. The ignorant savages, thinking 



it was the white men's fence and that the wires 
were to extend all the way to the ground, be- 
gan cutting it down immediately. When its 
use was cxjjlained to them, they caused no 
more trouble. The chief trouble which the 
settlers endured from the Indians was the Plum 



204 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




FRANK H. ADAMS. I- J. MALMSTEW D. E. LINCOLN. J. T. MOORE. N. M. YORK. 




C. S. ROLPH. J. T. COSTIN. 



L. A. OLINGER. 



H. A. TURTON 



ROSS S. THORNTON. 




Dawson County Court House 



Creek Massacre, in which eleven men were 
killed. In 18T2 most of the settlem.ents were 
made around Plum Creek, and the first Fourth 
of July celebration was held heie. During this 
year there was only one school district, and 
that comprised the whole county, since there 
were only six children of school age m Dawson 
County. In 1873 a substantial bridge was built 
across the Platte at Plum Creek, which was 
one mile in length. In the fall of this same 
year great excitement was caused at the report 
of a gold mine a half mile east of Plum Creek. 
Prospectors and fortune hunters came from all 
directions only to find that they had been 
fooled by an idle story. Much stock was lost 
and a great deal of suffering caused by the hard 
winter of 1880 and 1881. There is plenty of 
hay, water and grazing land for stock and orig- 
inally this was the only industry, but now 
stock raising and farming are successfully com- 
bined since the irrigating canals have rendered 
the ground capable of producing small grain 
as well as corn. At the present time nearly 
19,000 acres are devoted to the growing of al- 
falfa. The Platte River enters the County on 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



205 



the northwest and leaves it in the southeast, 
thus covering about 20,000 acres. Lexington, 
the county seat, originally called Plum Creek, 
has 1,3-13 inhabitants, while the population of 
the county is 12,214. 

H. A. f URTON was born January 10, 1844, 
at Morristown, New Jersey. His father was 
Rev. William H. Turton, a Baptist clergyman. 
He acquired his advanced education in the 
Normal Department of the Iowa State Univer- 
sity. In 1850 he moved to Milwaukee, Wis- 
consin, and in the following year to Iowa. Af- 
ter living in several Iowa cities, he moved to 
Kansas in 1873 and in ISS-") to Le.xingti.in 
where he still resides. He has held the official 
positions of County School Examiner, Justice 
of the Peace, Proofreader in the Legislature 
and Superintendent of the Kansas State Insti- 
tution for the Deaf and Dumb. He is now 
County Judge and is allied with the Repub- 
lican party. 

L. J. MALMSTEN is a graduate of Stock- 
holm University, Sweden, in which country he 
was born, November 22, 1840. He came to 
the United States in the summer of 18G9 and 
located at Omaha, Nebraska. After a short 
time he went to Oakland of this state, where 
he was engaged in the mercantile business un- 
til 1886. During twelve years of his residence 
in Burt County he was Postmaster at Oak- 
land. He was also County Clerk of Burt 
County for two terms before coming to Goth- 
enburg, Dawson County, in 1890. He was 
elected as County Treasurer in 1903 on the Re- 
publican ticket. He was married to Marv Mo- 
rell, of Oakland, in 1874. 

N. M. YORK was born September 20, 1872, 
at Bloomington, Illinois, whence he removed 
to Bloomington, Indiana, with his parents at 
the age of five. In 1885 he came to Dawson 
County, which has since been his home. He 
was graduated from the high school at Bloom- 
ington, Indiana, in the class of 1884 and also at- 
tended the University of Nebraska. His voca- 
tion is that of musical director m amateur 
work, but at present he holds the office of 
Clerk of the District Court. His politics are 
Republican. In 1898 he married Miss Frances 
Sucha of Schuyler, Nebraska. 

L. A. OLINGER was born May IG, 1857, in 
Putnam County, Missouri. He moved to Ne- 
braska in 1894 and lived two years in Buffalo 
County before locating in Dawson Coimty. 
Teaching is his profession, for which he was 
prepared by a course at the North Mis.souri 



State Normal, in Kirksville. He has taught in 
the graded schools of both Missouri and Ne- 
braska. At present he is County Superintend- 
ent of Dawson County and is associated with 
the Republican party. In November of 1881 he 
was married to Miss Flora Lemen of Missouri. 

D. E. LINCOLN was born April 12, 1860, 
in Dane County, Wisconsin. His father was 
a fourth cousin of Abraham Lincoln, and was 
a gold seeker in California's exciting days. He 
lived with his parents in Iowa before moving 
to Nebraska in 1874. After ten years' resi- 
dence in York County he located in Dawson 
County. He is a farmer and stock raiser, but 
is now County Sheriff. His wife was Miss Jes- 
sie Hunt, whom he married on New Year's 
Day of the year 1890. He is a member of the 
Populist party. 

RO^SS S. THORNTON was born November 
8, 1872, at Butler, Missouri, whence he came 
with his parents to Dawson County in 1883. 
Here his father, Benjamin H. Thornton, en- 
gaged in ranching. Mr. Thornton acquired his 
education at the Kearney High School and the 
Lincoln Business College. He is a jeweler by 
occupation and is now serving as County Clerk, 
having been elected on the Republican ticket. 
He Avas married to Miss Mae Day in March of 
1896 and has two children. 

J. T. MOORE came to Dawson County in 
1875. He took a homestead on which he still 
lives. His birth occurred at Mount Pleasant, 
Iowa, August 27, 1838, where he was educated 
in a private school. Here he was married in 
1859 to Miss Emilia M. Campbell of Ohio. Mr. 
Moore is serving his second term as Commis- 
sioner of Dawson County. He is allied with 
the Republican party. 

W. J. FLEMING was born October 13, 1843, 
in Pennsylvania, from which state he moved to 
Woodford County, Ilinois, in 1865. In 1880 he 
came to Lexington, Nebra.ska, which is his 
present residence. He acquired his education 
at the academy at Lewiston, Pennsylvania. He 
served in the state militia and fought at the 
battle of Gettysburg. During four years he 
served as County Treasurer and is now in his 
second term as Chairman of the Dawson 
County Commissioners. He is allied with the 
Republican Party. In 1874 he married Miss 
Ella Robinson of Illinois. 

SAMUEL ATKINSON homesteadcd in 
Dawson County in 1873, among the earliest 
settlers, when Indians, elk, deer and antelope 
were numerous. He was born in Clcarmont 



206 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



County, Ohio, on August 15, 1844. He was 
postmaster at Cozad from 1888 to 189G, after 
which he engaged in the flour and feed busi- 
ness. He is now County Commissioner for 
the third vear and politically is a Republican. 
He was married to Margaret Jane Doughman 
in 1861. Her death occurred in the year 1884. 
His present wife was Louisa W. Arnold. He 
has five sons and three daughters. He served 
in Company K, Seventy-ninth Ohio Volunteer 
Infantry, from 1862 to 1865, participating in 
all the battles from Stone River, under Rose- 
crans, to Atlanta, and from there with Sher- 
man on his march to the sea. 

S. T. KRIER was born February 32, 1874, in 
Lexington, Nebraska, which has always been 
his home. His father, B. F. Krier, has been 
editor of the Dawson County Pioneer since the 
year 1873. Mr. Krier attended the Lexingtoii 
high school and is now in the priming busi- 
ness. He served as secretary of the Republican 
Central Committee for five years and is now 
Deputy County Clerk. He is a member of the 
Knights of Pythias. 

C. S. ROLPH came to Dawson County, Ne- 
braska, in the spring of 1884 from Portland, 
New York, where he was born September 30, 
1868. The New York State Normal contrib- 
uted to his education. His father, W. H. 
Rolph, enlisted in the army as a private at 
Abraham Lincoln's first call for volunteers 
and was mustered out as First Lieutenant. In 
1890 he died as a result of the injuries he re- 
ceived wh'ie in service. Mr. Rolph held sev- 
eral town offices before being appointed to his 
present position as Deputy County Treasurer. 
His marriage to Miss Jennie Lazelle occurred 
in 1891. 

T. L. WARRINGTON obtained his educa- 
tion at the Iowa Academy of Troy and the 



Iowa College at Grinnell. His parents were 
living at Nauvoo, Illinois, at the time of his 
birth, August 2, 1848. At the age of eighteen 
he removed to Iowa and in 1871 to Nebraska, 
locating in Dawson County in 1873. He was 
admitted to the bar the same year and is now 
a practicing lawyer at Lexington. In 1875 he 
was a member of the Constitutional Conven- 
tion of Nebraska and in 1879 a member of the 
State Legislature. He was Dawson County's 
.\ttorney for three terms, and belongs to the 
Rei)ublican party. He served about two and 
one-half years in the Civil War, being enlisted 
in the Twelfth Illinois Cavalry. 

FRANK H. ADAMS is Mayor of Lexing- 
ton, Nebraska. His birth occurred at North- 
umberland, Pennsylvania, July 30, 1860. He 
was educated at public and private schools and 
at Wyoming Seminary of Pennsylvania, be- 
sides attending the Poughkeepsie Military In- 
stitute of New York. He came to Nebraska in 
1S79, after three years' residence in Iowa. For 
twenty-one years he has been connected with 
W'oolbach's General Merchandise Business at 
Lexington and is now general manager for 
tl-at firm. He was married to Miss Lola Gillet 
of North Platte in 1888. 

J. T. COSTIN was born May 7, 1865, in 
Whiteside County, Illinois. His father, who 
died in 1892, moved with his family to Dawson 
County, Nebraska, in 1867, and there is only 
one family that can claim as long a residence 
in the county as Mr. Costin. Mr. Costin was 
connected with the railroad during forty years 
of his life. He held the office of Clerk of Daw- 
son County during two terms and is now 
County Assessor. In politics he is a PopulisL 
He married Miss Katherine Kee of Dawson 
County in July, 1902. 



DEUEL COUNTY. 



Deuel County is well adapted to stock rais- 
ing, there being an abundant supply of water 
and much grazing land. The surface consists 
of fertile valleys, table-lands and sand hills. 
The North Platte, South Platte and Blue Riv- 
ers, Lodge Pole Creek and numerous small 
streams, and Beaver, Swan and many lakelets 
afford good drainage. The valleys are mostly 
irrigable and can produce alfalfa with great 
success. About 100 miles of ditches have been 



constructed, and the prospect for a greatly in- 
creased mileage in the near future is very 
bright. The value of good hay and grazing 
land has increased twenty per cent within the 
last five years, and at present there is a great 
demand for ranches in the county. The value 
of live stock in 1900 amounted to $2,568,165.00. 
The county was organized in 1888 with an area 
of 2,130 square miles. Chappell is the county 
seat. Other towns are Big Springs, Oshkosh 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



207 




ROBERT A. DAY. 



JOHN R. WERTZ. 



T. M. JOHNSON. 



JACKSON GYGEH 



\\ILLIAM F. WERTZ. 



and Day. The population of Deuel County is 
2,630. 

GEORGE C. McAllister was bom in 
Marion County, West Virginia, in 1855. He 
came to Illinois in 1878, where he was em- 
ployed as a farm hand, and came to Nebraska 
in 1881. He then returned to Indiana, where 
he attended school at Valparaiso, and in 1885 
came to Nebraska. He studied two years at 
the Northern Indiana Normal, taking the scien- 
tific course, and graduated from the Law De- 
partment of the University of Nebraska. Mr. 
McAllister has spent ten years in teaching, but 
is now practicing law. He was Attorney of 
Deuel County from 1897 to 1903, and was 
elected to the State Legislature in 1902 on the 
Republican ticket. 

JOHN R. WERTZ. a member of the firm of 
W'ertz Brothers, Chappell, Nebraska, was born 
January 1, 1872, in Bedford County, Pennsyl- 
vania. He came to Nebraska March 9, 1891. 
and settled in Deuel County, where he has 
since resided. The Wertz Brothers are dealers 
in hardware and lumber and have also been en- 
gaged in the ranching business, having op- 
erated a fine ranch west of Chappell. He is a 
Democrat, and is serving his second term as 
County Treasurer of Deuel County. Mr. 
Wertz is the President of the Nebraska-Wy- 
oming Developing Company and Vice-Presi- 
dent of the Blanch Copper Mining Company of 
Wyoming. When he landed in Chappell he 
had but $4.30 and todav could easily raise $50,- 
000. 

ROBERT A. DAY was born in Brown 
County, Ohio, March .J, 1867. At the age of 
seventeen he came to Butler County, Ne- 
braska, and two years later went to Deuel 
County, then a part of Cheyenne County. He 
received his education in the public scohols of 
Ohio and aside from liis official duties is inter- 
ested in farming and stock raising. Mr. Day 



is a Democrat and is serving his second term 
as County Clerk and Clerk of the District 
Court of Deuel County. In December, 1886, 
he homesteaded on the North Platte Valley. 
In 1897 he was married to Miss Viola Empson 
of Vallonia, Jackson County, Indiana, and they 
have one daughter. 

W. H. McELDOWNEY is a native of Penn- 
sylvania, having been born in Bedford County, 
June 29, 1859. He came to Lexington, Ne- 
I)raska, in 1878 and three years later went to 
Iowa, where he remained until coming to Deuel 
County, Nebraska, in 1886. He is engaged in 
the livery business, and is serving his second 
term as Sherifif of Deuel County, having been 
appointed to the office for the first term. Mr. 
McEldowney is a Republican. He married 
Miss Ida Reynolds of Coon Rapids, Iowa, in 
1887, and they have one daughter, fifteen years 
of age. 

LOUELLA M. BERNHARD was born in 
Alido, Mercer County, Illinois. February 1, 
1866, and received her education in the public 
schools of New Windsor and Rock Island, Illi- 
nois. At the age of twenty she removed 
to Independence, Missouri, and came to Chap- 
pell, Nebraska, in 1899, where she has since re- 
mained. Her mother took a homestead in 
Deuel County about 1889 and has made this 
her home ever since. Her father was a veter- 
innary surgeon. Mrs. Bernhard has been en- 
gaged as a teacher and is now serving her first 
term as Superintendent of Public Instruction 
of Deuel County, being associated with the Re- 
publican party. 

HOSE A HUDSON was born in New York 
State in 1828. His parents moved to Michi- 
gan in 1836, then back to New York in 1840, 
and after that lived in Maryland and Pennsyl- 
vania. He was educated in the University of 
New York and Fourteenth Street College. 



208 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



When Company D of the 13r)d Pennsylvania 
was disbanded before the battle of Gettysburg, 
he had reached the rank of Second Lieutenant, 
and then joined the 210th Pennsylvania and 
served in it until the close of the war. He par- 
ticipated in the battles of Antietam, Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville, and was wounded and 
taken prisoner at C.ravelly Run, March 31, 
1865. The Confederates put him in charge of 
a ward in the hospital, but he was recaptured 
in forty-eight hours by Federal troops. He 
was married in 18G0 and came to Lexington, 
Nebraska, then Plum Creek, in 1874. In 1885 
he settled in Cheyenne County and has re- 
mained in that part of the state ever smce. He 
has been County Physician, Examining Sur- 
geon and Coroner of Cheyenne County and is 
now Coroner of Deuel County. 

JACKSON GYGER was born in Weeping 
Water Precinct, Cass County, Nebraska, Octo- 
ber 1, 1863. His father, John Gyger, was an 
early settler in Cass County, having settled 
there in 1856, where he still lives. He was ed- 
ucated in the common schools of Cass County 
and came to western Nebraska in 1886 as a 
cowbov, locating in Deuel County, then a part 
of Cheyenne County. Here he took a home- 
stead, which he still holds, as part of his ranch, 
comprising four thousand acres, well stocked 
with cattle. He has served two terms as Clerk 



of Deuel County and has been a member of the 
School Board. In 1900 he married Miss Mary 
E. Williams of Chappell, Nebraska, and they 
have one son, aged two years. 

T. M. JOHNSON, owner and editor of the 
Register, the only newspaper published in 
Deuel County, was born February 15, 1871, in 
Bethan}-, Missouri. His father, Joseph C. 
Johnson, located on a ranch in Deuel County 
in 1885. Mr. Johnson received his education in 
the Denver University. He has been editor of 
the Register for four years. Deputy County 
Clerk, Assistant Cashier of the Commercial 
Bank of Chappell ten years, and Postmaster 
seven years, holding all of these positions at 
the same time. He is affiliated with the Re- 
publican party, was married to Miss May B. 
Loveland of Julesburg, Colorado, October 10, 
1898, and they have one daughter, four years 
old. He homesteaded in Deuel Countv about 
1892. 

WILLIAM F. \\'ERTZ, a brother of John 
R. Wertz, County Treasurer of Deuel County, 
was born in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, 
October 15, 1868. He came to Deuel County 
January 1, 1893, and has lived in the county 
ever since. He took a homestead August 15, 
1898. and proved u]i on it, but sold it later. He 
is engaged in the hardware and lumber busi- 
ness. 



DIXON COUNTY. 



The Dakotas, Omahas and Poncas inhabited 
this county before the white men came in 1856. 
They caused no particular trouble, except that 
there were constantly Indian "scares," which 
originated usually in the vivid imaginations of 
the settlers. Among the first settlers were 
three Stough brothers, John, Jacob and Solo- 
mon, and two Brown brothers. The Hard 
Times which came in 1858— the very year of 
organizing — were a great drawback to the new 
county. Many deserted their homes, some to 
return to the east and others to seek Pike's 
Peak. The coming of the grasshoppers in 
1874, 1875 and 1876 drove many away, and 
very little progress was made for a time. There 
are many rugged hills along the Mi.ssouri River 
in the northern part, and the remainder of the 
surface comprises mostly valley land because 
of the even distribution of the streams. The 



Missouri, Iowa and Logan Rivers make up the 
greater part of the water supply. The valleys 
of the diflFerent streams vary from one-half to 
three miles in width. Forest culture was great. 
ly neglected during the earlier years because of 
the frequency of prairie fires, and the cultiva- 
tion of fruit was not engaged in to any extent 
because of the fear of locusts. There are many 
groves of trees now which have been set out 
in recent years. The soil is deep and rich, the 
roots of trees extending in many places to a 
depth of fifteen feet. Grains and corn are 
profitably raised, but the native grasses are the 
principal resource of the county. There is 
plenty of good building stone and clay for brick 
making. Peat is found and coal in limited 
quantities. The "Dixon County Volcano" has 
had a wide though mostly fictitious reputation. 
It is located about eighty rods above Ionia on 



COT'NTY HISTORY. 







A. V. TEED. 



C. A. KINGSLEY. 



H. H. HAHT. 



N. P. HEi'DON. 




V\-. J. ARMOUR. 





J. M. HIRLEY. 



Dixon Cuuniv Court House 



the Missouri bluffs. In 1877 great consterna- 
tion was caused on account of a landslide 
which exposed minerals which seemed to have 
chemical action. Steam escaped from the crev- 
ices and the heat was very great, though noth- 
ing resulted. Limestone, sulphur, copperas 
and other minerals characteristic of volcanic 
regions are found here. Dixon county is pop- 
ulated by 10,535 people and its capital, Ponca, 
has 1,043 people. The manufacturing industry 
consists of four flour and grist mills and four 
brick yards. The census shows 4,023 school 
children in Dixon County. 

A. V. TEED was born in Williamsburg, In- 
diana, February 19, 1876. He removed with 
his parents to Bloomington, Illinois, in 1877; 
to Westboro, Missouri, in 1S80; to Le Mar, 



Missouri, in 1888 ; to Jerico Springs, Missouri, 
in 1890, and to Newcastle, Nebraska, in 1898^ 
He received his preparatory education in the 
high school and an academy and attended the 
Lutheran College at Jerico, Missouri, working 
his way through school. Mr. Teed has taught 
school and was Principal of scnools at New- 
castle, Nebraska. He is now serving his first 
term as County Superintendent of Dixon 
County, having been elected on the Republican 
ticket. 

A. H. MASKELL was born m Richland 
County, Wisconsin, December 24, 1865. He 
removed to Vermillion, South Dakota, about 
1867, and some ten years later came to Dixon 
County, where he has since lived. He was 
married to Miss Effie Wellington in 1895 and 



210 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



they have four children. He was elected Sher- 
iff on the Fusion ticket and is now serving his 
third term. Mr. Maskell took the last piece of 
land subject to homestead in Dixon County in 
1886 and ran a race through a blizzard to the 
land office at Niobrara to file his papers in ad- 
vance of another man. Mr. Maskell has a farm 
of six hundred acres and is engaged in breeding 
Hereford cattle. He is the Vice-President of 
the Newcastle State Bank. 

E. E. RICE was born in Floyd County, 
Iowa, June 4, 1863. In 1866 he removed with 
his parents to lona, Nebraska, and has. lived 
in the county almost all his life, where he has 
been engaged in farming He received his edu- 
cation in the public schools, and was married 
to Miss Elvira Metcalf in 1885. They have 
two daughters. Mr. Rice is a member of the 
Republican party and has been Road Overseer, 
School Trustee, County Supervisor, Township 
Assessor and was elected County Clerk in 1901. 

W. J. ARMOUR is a native of Nebraska, 
having been born March 22, 1868, near Da- 
kota City, where his parents were among the 
first settlers of that section of Nebraska. 
After finishing his work in the public schools, 
he attended Wayne Normal College and the 
University of South Dakota, pursuing such 
courses as would prepare him for a business 
career. In 1890 he removed to Allen, Ne- 
braska, where he engaged in the mercantile 
business, and moved to Ponca in December, 
1903. He was married to Miss Currence 
Fisher in 1897 and they have one son. Mr. 
Armour is a Republican and at present is the 
County Treasurer of Dixon County. 

H. H. HART was born in Richland, Keokuk 
County, Iowa, April 18. 1867. He came with 
his parents to Dakota County in 1867 and to 
Dixon County in 1876, where he has since re- 
mained. In 1889 he married Miss Nellie Isom, 
and they have one son and one daughter. Mr. 
Hart is engaged in raising registered short 
horn cattle near Ponca, where he owns a fine 
farm. He is affiliated with the Republican 
pzTty, and was Sheriff of Dixon County from 
1895 to 1900 and was appointed County Treas- 
urer to fill a vacancy. He is now serving his 
first term as Judge of Dixon County. 

J. M. HURLEY was born in Dixon County, 
December 1.5, 1873. His father came to Dixon 
County in the fifties and was at one time 
Treasurer of Dixon County. He was educated 
in the public schools and is engaged in farm- 
ing and breeding registered Hereford cattle. 



In April, 1899, he married Miss Mariam Mc- 
Shane, and they have two daughters. He is a 
member of the Democratic party and was 
elected Clerk of the District Court in 1899 and 
re-elected in 1903. Aside from his duties as 
Clerk of the District Court, he is engaged in 
real estate and insurance business. 

A. N. PORTER was born in Ponca, Ne- 
braska, July 31, 1870, and has spent all his life 
in the county, where he has followed the trade 
of a carpenter. His father, N. S. Porter, was 
a millwright by trade, but was employed by 
the government during the latter part of liis 
life, and was one of the early settlers of Di.xon 
County. He received a public school education 
in Dixon County. He was married to Miss 
Liland E. Johnson in 1898 and they have 
three daughters. Mr. Porter is in the Repub- 
lican party and has been Deputy Clerk for 
seven years. 

C. D. STOUGH was born in Ponca, Ne- 
braska, November 23, 1875, and has liveil in 
Dixon County all his life. He graduated from 
the Ponca High School in 1891, Midland Col- 
lege, Atchison, Kansas, 1896, and took post- 
graduate work at Princeton University in 1898 
and 1899. He has been Principal of the Ponca 
High School four and one-half years and Dep- 
uty County Treasurer one term. He is af- 
filiated with the Republican party. His par- 
ents came to Dixon County 1857 and took a 
homestead west of the present site of the 
Countv seat. 

N. P. HEYDON was born in Ponca, Ne- 
braska, April 5, 1863, where he grew to man- 
hood and haS' resided all his life. He attended 
the public schools of Dixon County, but as 
these schools were not far advanced in his 
youth, he is for the most part a self-made man. 
In 1887 he married Miss Susan Bell and they 
have two daughters. He is engaged in the im- 
plement business at Ponca and is serving his 
second term as Mayor, being associated with 
the Republican party. Mr. Heydon helped 
build the Northwestern Railroad through this 
section. 

CLARENCE A. KINGSBURY was born at 
Mt. Carmel, Illinois, January 15, 1862, of 
American parentage. He was educated in a 
Normal School and took a course in the Uni- 
versity of South Dakota. He came to Ponca, 
Nebraska, in 1886 and has been practicing law 
at that place since 1893. He is a member of 
the People's Independent party and has been 
County Attorney of Dixon County since Tami- 
ary, 1900. 



COUNTY HISTORY 



211 






W. H. GAItDNU;];. 



B. WALKER. 



C. O. BOIC. 



}.. BAIIMAN, Jr. 



GEORGE F. WOLZ. 




JOHN O-CONNOR. 




J. M. CRl'ICKSHANK. 




Jk.4 





chari.es arnot. 




this county pays the highest wages to farm 
laborers. In 1900 Dodge shipped more caUlc 
than any other county, was second in the hog 
market, and third in the sheep industry. It is 
said that there is no fruit that will not flourish 
here, if given proper cultivation. There are 
many groves and orchards besides native tim 



Dodge County Court House. Photo by W. P. Fritz 
DODGE COUNTY. 

Dodge County is in many respects entitled 

to its reputation of being the "banner county" 

of Nebraska. All land values are high, no 

lands selling for less than $50 per acre. In the georgu; j. coduington. 

sugar beet industry it is first in the state, and 

The Platte and Elkhorn Rivers, with Logan, 
Maple, Cuming, Pebble and Rawhide Creeks, 
make up the fine water system. The county 
has a comparatively small area of AiW square 
miles and occupies the laud just at the junction 
of the Platte and Elkhorn Rivers. Its railroads 



and rivers account for the great commercial 



ber. There are over 250,000 acres of some of and agricultural progress. The first claims 
the richest soil in the world, only seven per were taken by John and Arthur Bloomer in 
cent being untillable, rough and sandy tracts. 18r)(; near the mouth of Maple Creek. In the 



212 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



same year Mrs. Wealthy Deebe and family, 
with her son-in-law, Abrani McNeal and fam- 
ily, located two miles west of what is now 
Fremont. In 1857 the Pawnees occupied the 
south bank of the Platte and their main village 
was almost opposite Fremont. Because there 
was an exceptionally hard winter in 1857, the 
Indians actually believed that the white men 
were the cause of it, and they avenged them- 
selves in many little ways. The financial panic 
in 1857 sorely affected this county as well as 
many others. Fremont was the first town 
which was platted, and it was laid out Au^st 
3, 1856. Seth P. Marvin was instrumental in 
this work, and he has been called the "Father 
of Fremont." The town was named in honor 
of Col. John C. Fremont, who was the oppos- 
ing candidate of President Buchanan. 

GEORGE J. CODDINGTON was born 
July 5, 1863, in Middletown, New York. He 
left New York in July, 1884, coming to West 
Point, Nebraska. Leaving there shortly after, 
he worked at Scribner and Hooper, Nebraska, 
for two years at carpenter work. He attended 
the Fremont Normal School and graduated 
from there in 1887. He clerked in a clothing 
store a few months, after which he began work 
for the F., E. & M. V. R. R. Companyas check 
clerk, until he became chief clerk and cashier. 
He was appointed Deputy County Clerk in 
1889 and Deputy Treasurer in November, 1892, 
which position he filled until 1901, when he 
was elected County Treasurer of Dodge 
County and re-elected in 1903. He is a mem- 
ber of the Democratic party. 

JOHN O'CONNOR is a native of Nebraska, 
having been born in Dodge County, October 
27, 1872, where he was brought up and edu- 
cated in the common schools. All his life has 
been spent in the county, most of it on a farm, 
from which he was elected to the office of Reg- 
ister of Deeds on the Democratic ticket. He 
was married in 1903 and has held various town- 
ship offices. 

ROBERT J. STINSON is a native of New 
York, having been born in Delaware Countv 
in 1854. In 1881 he went to Winfield, Iowa'; 
later to South Dakota, and then to Omaha in 
1884. He taught school in Douglas County 
for a short time and then came to Fremont in 
January, 1889. He was educated in Stanford 
Seminary, New York, and studied in a law 
office until he was admitted to the bar in that 
state. He practiced four years at North Bend, 
Nebraska. In 1890 he was married to Miss 



Minnie Sebring, of St. Louis, Missouri. Mr. 
Stinson is a member of the Republican party 
and has served two terms as City Attorney and 
is now serving his second term as County At- 
torney of Dodge County. 

A. H. BRIGGS is a native of Kalamazoo 
County, Michigan, having been born Novem- 
ber 20, 1847. He removed with his parents 
from Michigan to Mills County, Iowa, in 1856, 
and in 1869 he came to Dodge County, Ne- 
braska. His father was a contractor and 
builder and also a miller. Mr. Briggs was edu- 
cated principally in Tabor College, Iowa, and 
studied law one year at the LTniversity of Mich- 
igan and later in a law office. He was married 
in 1877 and again in 1903 and has three chil- 
dren. He has been Justice of the Peace, No- 
tary, a member of the School Board and is 
now serving his second term as Judge of Dodge 
County. He is affiliated with the Republican 
partv. 

J.'M. CRUICKSHANK was born in Scot- 
land in 1843 and came to the United States in 
the fifties. He began work on the Union Pa- 
cific Railroad in 1868 and remained with them 
seventeen years ; then, after farming four years, 
was employed four years more by the Missouri 
Pacific. He was educated in the Nebraska pub- 
lic schools, but for the greater part he made his 
own way. In 1870 he married Miss Mary Da- 
vidson, and they have four children. He is a 
member of the Democratic party and is serv- 
ing his second term as Clerk of the District 
Court of Dodge County. 

C. O. BOE was born in Bergen, Norway. 
November 20, 1868. He came with his parents 
to the United States in 1870 and settled in 
Salem, Ohio, where he lived until his nine- 
teenth year, when he came to Dodge County, 
Nebraska. His education was gained in the 
Salem public schools and the Fremont Normal 
College, graduating from the scientific course 
of the latter institution. Mr. Boe taught school 
for two years and has been engaged in farm- 
ing. He was County Superintendent of Dodge 
County for four years and in 1903 was elected 
Clerk of the same county on the Democratic 
ticket. 

A. BAUMAN, JR., is a native Nebraskan. 
having been born in Fremont October 29, 1871. 
His father was an old settler of Dodge County 
and was a grain and stock dealer; also the pro- 
prietor of the Farmers' Hotel at Fremont. He 
was educated in the Fremont public schools 
and attended the Fremont Business College 



4 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



213 



and tlic Fremont Normal. Mr. Bauman is in 
the livery and transfer business. He is asso- 
ciated witli the Republican party and is Sher- 
iff of Dodge County. He was married to 
Mamie McKinn in 1898. 

CHARLES ARNOT was born in Greenville, 
West Virginia, and came to Nebraska in 1887, 
where he has since lived, teaching in various 
parts of the state. He was educated in the pub- 
lic and private schools of West Virginia and 
has taken summer work in the University of 
Nebraska and the Valparaiso and Fremont 
Normal Schools. For two years he was Princi- 
pal of Schools in Elk Creek, Nebraska, for six 
years Superintendent of Schools at Scribner, 
Nebraska, and is now serving his second term 
as Superintendent of Dodge County. Mr. Ar- 
not is a member of the Democratic party. 

GEORGE F. WOLZ is a Pennsylvanian, 
having been born in Philadelphia December 30, 
1861. His father was a merchant and Mr. 
AVolz has also been engaged in the mercantile 
business. In 1872 he came to Fremont with 



his parents and has spent all his life there. His 
education was gained in the Fremont public 
schools. In 1882 he married Miss May Pfeiffer 
and they have two children. Mr. Wolz is serv- 
ing his first term as Mayor of Fremont. 

W. H. GARDNER was born July 19, 1855, 
at Lee Center, Illinois, where he lived until 
1881. Then he came to Pawnee City, Ne- 
braska, and has been Superintendent of City 
Schools in Nebraska with the exception of a 
few years since coming to the state. He has 
been employed as City Superintendent at Paw- 
nee City, Tecumseh, Wymore, Nebraska City, 
Lincoln and Auburn, and at present is Super- 
intendent of the City Schools of Fremont. Mr. 
Gardner has been Principal of the Junior State 
Normal at North Platte, Nebraska, for two 
years. He received his education in the high 
schools of Ashton, Illinois, and Rock River 
Seminary. He is a Republican and was mar- 
ried to Miss Elizabeth Nesbitt of Hanover, Ill- 
inois, in 18TS, and they have two sons and two 
daughters. 



DOUGLAS COUNTY. 



For many years the Indians claimed this 
county as their exclusive property, and they 
were not disturbed vmtil what is known as the 
"Mormon Advent" in 1844. This band of Mor- 
mons, having been expelled from Illinois, jour- 
neyed westward and stayed for a season in 
Douglas County. The temporary settlement 
which they established was called "Winter 
Quarters." It was in reality a town with stores 
and houses formed into streets and a popula 
tion of about 15,000. A great deal of the na- 
tive timber was used up in the building of this 
town, and upon complaint of the Indians to 
this effect, the government requested the Mor- 
mons to leave the county. The town was va- 
cated and the Mormons scattered over Iowa. 
The Indians exercised undisputed authority 
over the county for some time after this on ac- 
count of government protection, but tnere were 
many "would-be" inhabitants, and in 1854, a 
treaty was concluded with the Otoes, Missouris 
and Omahas by which the Indians were to re- 
nounce their claims and go to a reservation 
Florence and Omaha were the first towns, and 
they became sharp rivals. The former was 
finally forced to succumb to Omaha, and no\v 
their respective populations are 688 and 128,- 



551). The first letter received in the county 
was addressed to Omaha City, Nebraska Ter., 
from Washington, and was a refusal of the re- 
quest for a mail route between Council Bluffs 
and Omaha. As the proceeds were not enough 
to pay for a carrier, at first the mail was car- 
ried in the coat pockets of Mr. A. D. Jones 
and distributed whenever convenient. The 
first actual dwelling house in Omaha was a log 
shanty in the northeastern part of the Kountze 
place in South Omaha, on which a shingle sign 
announced "Post Office by A. D. Jones." The 
first county newspaper was "The Arrow," a 
weekly, edited in 1854 by J. E. Johnson, a Mor- 
mon, and J. W. Pattison. Durmg the next 
year "The Herald" appeared, edited by George 
L. Miller. The population of the county in 
1854 was less than 1,000. After a period of 
fifty years it now numbers 140,590. In 1857 
came the financial panic, in which the "wild- 
cat" banks everywhere failed, values fell and 
there was a general exodus out of the country. 
Douglas County was organized in 1855 with an 
area of .S35 square miles, 1.^0 square miles of 
which are included in the valleys of the Platte, 
Elkhorn and tributaries of the Papillion. 
JOHN POWER was born May 6, 1849, in 



214 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 







^m 







ROBERT O. FINK. 



JOHN POWER. W. G. CUNNINGHAM. GEORGE A. MAGNEY. HARRY P. DBUEl 




E. J. BODWELL. 




R. E. STEWART. 




County in 1899, which office he now holds. 

JAMES P. ENGLISH is a native of Wiscon- 
sin, having been born in Kenosha, September 
12, 1859. His father, Thomas English, was 
engaged in the harness and saddlery business. 
In November, 1880, he removed from Wiscon- 
sin and came to Omaha, Nebraska. He is a 
practicing attorney of Omaha and at present 
is the County Attorney of Douglas Countv. 

HARRY P. DEUEL is a pioneer of Oniaha, 
having lived in the same ward, the Fourth, for 



Douglas County Court House 

^Vaterford, Ireland, where he received his edu- 
cation in the public schools. In 1865 he came 
to Philadelphia and was there employed as a 
cooper for five years. In 1878 he went to Kan- 
sas City, Missouri, and six months later set- 
tled in Omaha, Nebraska, where he has been 
engaged in business and is now connected with 
the International Manufacturing Company. In 
politics Mr. Power is a Democrat and was 
elected to the office of Sheriff of Douglas 




F. A. BROADWELL. 




H. E. HEATH. 



over forty years. Mr. Deuel is an offspring of 
the Empire State. He was born in Clarkson, 
Monroe County, but during his childhood he 
removed with his parents to Farmington, Illi- 
nois. He attended Lombard University at 
Galesburg, Illinois. For thirty-five years after 
coming to Omaha in 1859 he was connected 
with the railroad. Three years ago Mr. Deuel 
was made County Auditor and is now Register 
of Deeds. 

DUNCAN M. VINSONHALER is an 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



215 



Omaha lawyer, having- received his LL. B. at 
the University of Michigan in 1891. He was 
born in Nodaway County, Missouri, on the 29th 
of June, 1867. His parents are George and 
Sarah Vinsonhaler, and they are engaged in 
farming. He is filling the position of County 
Judge for the third term and is associated with 
the Republican party. He was married to 
Miss Isabel Ellison in 1893, and they have two 
children. 

ROBERT O. FINK was born May 3, 18C0, 
in Germany, whence he came to America in 
1880 and located first in Ohio. After a year 
there he moved to Nebraska. He was educated 
at the Prenzleau College and has been engaged 
in bookkeeping, real estate and newspaper 
business. He was married in 1886 to Flavilla 
Cushman and they have two children. In poli- 
tics he is a Repyblican and he is now serving 
his first term as County Treasurer. 

E. J. BODWELL was born in February of 
1860 in Orleans County, Vermont. He came 
to Nebraska in 1888 and is now a resident of 
Omaha. His vocation -is teaching and he is 
now serving for the fifth term as County Su- 
perintendent. He was educated at the Ver- 
mont State Normal and at Dartmouth College, 
where he took his B. S. in 1888. Mr. Bodwel! 
has been principal of graded schools in Doug- 
las County and is now President of the State 
Teachers' Association, in which organization 
he was a member of the executive committee 
for three years. He has been director of the 
N. E. A. in this state for two years. He is 
a Republican in politics. 

GEORGE A. MAGNEY was born Septem- 
ber 29, 1858, in Portsmouth, Ohio. He came 
to Nebraska in 1865 and received his education 
in the high school at Plattsmouth, Nebraska. 
He studied law with Judge Chatman and was 
admitted to the bar in 1883. After practicing 
four years at Papillion he located in Omaha. 
In 1885 he married Dora L. Ayer. Several 
years ago he acted as Judge of the Municipal 
Court and has been Deputy County Attorney 
for the past two years. Politically he is a 
Populist. 

HARRY D. REED was born October 5, 
1860, in Walworth County, Wisconsin, from 
which state he came to Nebraska in 1876. His 
parents, Orid and Jane Reed, are engaged in 
farming. Mr. Reed is engaged in the real es- 
tate and abstracting business. For three ditifer- 
ent times he has been on the City Board of 
Review and is now filling the position of 



County Assessor. He is a member of the Re- 
jHiblican party. June 23, 1891, he married El- 
len Fay and they have two children. 

FRANK A. BROADWELL was born at 
Morrisonville, New York, in the year 1859 and 
in 1888 he came to Nebraska. He acquired his 
education at Cornell University. During two 
terms he served as City Treasurer of South 
Omaha and is now Clerk of District Court for 
the second term. He is affiliated with the 
Democratic party. In 1891 he was married to 
Miss Gertrude Glasgow. 

FRANK CHRISTMANN was born in Ba- 
varia in 1853 and his parents are still in Ger- 
many. He acquired his education at the Royal 
Bavarian Gymnasium. In 1880 he came to Ne- 
braska and his occupation is bookkeeping. 
From 1894 to 1898 he served as Police Judge 
of South Omaha. Fle is Deputy Register of 
Deeds of Douglas County and is a member of 
the Democratic party. His wife's maiden 
name was Miss Elisa Jindra and their mar- 
riage occurred in 1899. 

W. G. CUNNINGHAM is engaged in the 
furniture and contracting business at Omaha, 
to which city he came from his birthplace, De- 
troit, Michigan, in the year of 1889. His birth 
occurred November 10, 1869. He was educated 
in the public schools of Detroit. For four and 
one-half years he has been Deputy Sheriff of 
Douglas County. In 1894 he married Miss 
Leonore Sander, daughter of Councilman San- 
der. He has two sons. 

H. C. SHARP is Deputy County Treasurer 
of Douglas County. He came to Omaha in 
1867, after a two years' residence in Illinois. 
His birthplace is Balderinsville, New York, and 
he was born July 15, 1857. He received his ed- 
ucation in the public and private schools of 
Omaha. For five years he held the position 
of City Comptroller and is an accountant by 
vocation. 

JOHN H. GROSSMAN is a practicing at- 
torney of Omaha. He came to Nebraska in 
October of 1885 from Salem, New Jersey, 
where he was born January 17, 1854. He was 
graduated from Lafayette College, Pennsylva- 
nia, in the class of 1881, receiving the degree 
of Ph. B. His legal training was acquired at 
Salem, New Jersey, and he was admitted to the 
bar by the Supreme Court of New Jersey in 
1884. Mr. Grossman is a glass blower bj' trade 
and worked his way through school. He en- 
tered on his first term as Deputy Clerk of Dis- 
trict Court in 1902, having previously been 



216 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Deputy County Attorney for two years. He 
is a Democrat and in 1891 married Laurina 
E. Gardner. 

JOHN J. DONAHUE was born near Iowa 
City, Iowa, on the 15th of September, 1857. At 
first he worked as a mechanic in the Burling- 
ton shops until he accepted the position of pa- 
trolman of Creston, Iowa. Since that time he 
has always been on the police force, having 
been marshal, patrolman, detective and captain 
of the police. He was elected Chief of Omaha 
Police in November of 1899, which position he 



still holds. December 2G, 1881, he was married 
to Miss Annie E. Fitzgerald of Iowa City. 

FRANK E. MOORES has been Mayor of 
Omaha since 1897. He was born in 1842 in 
Butler County, Ohio, and came to Omaha in 
1875. At that time he was City Ticket Agent 
of the Kansas City, St. Joe and Council Bluffs 
Railway. He was Clerk of the District Court 
for eight years and was appointed Colonel on 
the stafif of Governor Dietrich. He has always 
been a Republican in politics. He served in the 
Civil War and spent some time in Libby 
Prison. 



DUNDY COUNTY. 



Dundy County is situated in the southwest 
corner of the state and it occupies a region oi 
960 square miles. In 1880 its inhabitants num- 
bered only 37, but since its organization ten 
years ago the population has grown to 2,434. 
The county received its name in honor of a 
United States Judge, Elmer S. Dundy, of the 
U. S. Circuit Court. The table-lands and prai- 
ries are relieved by the fertile valleys of the 
Republican River and Rocky Spring, Indian, 
Muddy and Camp Creeks. All the soil is fer- 
tile. Apples, plums and cherries are the most 
widely cultivated fruits, while corn, wheat, 
sorghum, hay and potatoes make up the princi- 
pal farm products. The stock market is sup- 
plied with cattle, hogs and sheep. Rich grasses 
are very plentiful, and the blue joint grass is 
said to grow as high as a man in many places 
in the lowlands Land values have increased 
twenty-five per cent in the last seven years, 
and just now there is considerable demand for 
farms and ranches. The Burlington and Mis- 
souri Railway passes through the southern por- 
tion, making 41.54 miles of railway across the 
county. There are 836 school children in the 
county. 

R. D. DRULINER, County Attorney of 
Dundy County, was born in Laporte County, 
Indiana, February 6, 1873, and seven years 
later went to Iowa with his parents, where he 
lived until 1893, when he came to Nebraska 
After attending High School at Oakland for a 
time, he studied at Orleans College, of Orleans, 
Nebraska, and graduated from the Law De- 
partment of the LTniversity of Nebraska in 
1901. He enlisted in the Third Nel)rasKa in 
June, 1898, and served about six months as 



Sergeant of Company I. Mr. Drulinger is a 
lawyer and teacher by profession. He is serv- 
ing his first term as Attorney of Dundy 
County. 

C. C. BARR is a native of West Virginia, 
having been born in Re'edy, February 4, 1870, 
from whence he came to Saunders County, Ne- 
braska, in 1884, and has traveled a good deal 
since that time. He has resided in Dundy 
County since 1891, where he has been engaged 
in the lumber business. He was educated in 
the Common Schools of West Virginia. He 
was married to Miss Anna King in 1893 and 
they have two daughters. Mr. Barr is a Popu- 
list in politics and is now serving his second 
term as Treasurer of Dundy County. 

JACOB RICKARD was born in Letart, 
West Virginia, October 8, 1863, where he lived 
until his twenty-first year, when he went to 
Omaha and later to Western Nebraska. He 
has been engaged in school teaching princi- 
pally, having taught in West Virginia and Ne- 
braska. He has homesteaded in Dundy County 
and previous to his election was a clerk in a 
store. He is now serving his second term as 
County Clerk, Register of Deeds and Clerk of 
the District Court of Dundy County, having 
been elected on the Republican ticket. He 
married Miss Margaret A. Hurlow in 1893, 
and they have two children. 

L. E. CAMPBELL is a native of Nebraska, 
having been born on a farm in Fillmore 
County, May 26, 1870. He received his educa- 
tion in the common schools of Friend, Ne- 
braska, and has always been a resident of this 
state. His father is a native of New York 
State and his mother is of German birth. Mr. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



217 




J. L. M'KORKLK. 



JACOB RICKARD 



C. C. BARR. 



WILLIAM S. PORTER. 



L. MORSE. 





C. ESTELLA GOODWIN 



L. E. CAMPBELL. 



Dundy County Court House. Photo by Lathan 



Campbell is a blacksmith by trade and is serv- 
ing his second term as Sheriff of Dundy 
County, having been elected on the Republican 
ticket. 

C. ESTELLA GOODWIN was born in 
Poweshiek County, Iowa, March 30, 1879, from 
whence she- came to Franklin County, Ne- 
braska, in her seventh year and in 1888 she 
came to Dundy County, her present home. 
She was educated in the common schools of 
Nebraska, attended High School at Galesburg, 
Illinois, one year and is a graduate of the 
Western Normal School at Macomb, Illinois. 
She taught one year in Illinois, six years in 
Nebraska and is now serving her first term as 
County Superintendent, having been elected on 
the Republican ticket. 



WILLIAM S. PORTER was born in Clay 
County, Illinois, March 26, 1864, where he 
grew to manhood and received his education 
in the common schools. He came to Pawnee 
County, Nebraska, in 1890, and in the next 
vear settled in Dundy County, where he has 
been engaged in farming. Mr. Porter is a 
nieniber of the Republican party and is serving 
his first term as Judge of Dundy County. 

J. L. McKORKLE is a native of Indiana, 
born in Putnam County, September 3, 1849. 
He removed with his parents to Iowa in 1853, 
where he received his education in the High 
Schools at Columbia. In 1871 he came to Ne- 
l)raska and has since engaged in ranching and 
farming in this state. He married Miss Jane 
Matthews in 1874 and they have raised two 



218 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



adopted children. He is now serving his first 
term as County Assessor of Dundy County, 
having been elected on the Republican ticket. 
L. MORSE was born in Weston, Massachu- 
setts, in 1842, where he received his education 
in the high schools. He resided in Weld 
County, Colorado, four years and after coming 



to Nebraska engaged in the ranching business. 
Mr. Morse served as Treasurer of Dundy 
County for four years and was a member of the 
State Board of Agriculture for fifteen years. 
He has been chairman of the County Central 
Committee for ten years and is at present 
County Surveyor. 



FILLMORE COUNTY. 



The first settlement in Fillmore County was 
made in June, 1866, when William Bussard and 
William Whitaker took up claims in the north- 
ern part of the county on the West Blue River, 
where the Fillmore Mills were afterward Iniilt. 
The first white woman was Mrs. E. A. Whita- 
ker, then about seventy years old, who entered 
a homestead claim. During the first years buf- 
falo, elk and antelope were present in large 
numbers, and the care of meats, hides and furs 
was one of the principal occupations. In 1870 
immigration began to come in fast, most of the 
settlements being made in the southeastern 
part of the county, and by 1873 all the land was 
thickly settled. Fillmore County was organ- 
ized in 1871. Its r)7fi square mileij of land are, 
for the most part, level and there is very little 
waste land. The orchards furnish apples, 
cherries, plums and peaches. Land has almost 
doubled in vahie during the last few years. The 
water supply is made up of West Blue River, 
Turkey Creek and other smaller streams. The 
first ministers of the Gospel were Elder E. R. 
Spear, who settled northwest of Geneva, and 
Rev. G. W. Gue, who located near the present 
site of Fairmont. The first post-office was es- 
tablished at Fillmore in 1871. E. D. Martin 
was made Postmaster, and his salary for the 
first year amounted to $12. All progress came 
to an end in 1874 because of the terrible de- 
struction wrought b}^ the grasshoppers. Manv 
residents deserted their farms. Among those 
who stayed, the suffering from want and priva- 
tion was intense, although no one actually died 
of starvation. A small amount of relief was 
voted by the county in behalf of the sufferers. 
There was very little immigration during the 
years of 1875 and 1876 because of the wide- 
spread reports of the grasshopper visitation, 
but now the inhabitants number 15,087, of 
whom 1,534 live at the capital, Geneva. The 
school census shows 5,519 pupils. 

E. J. BARBUR was born in Woodstock, Illi- 
nois, November 23, 1868. While a small child 



he came to Filmore County with his parents, 
and has since lived there, engaging in farming 
and stock raising. He was educated at the 
Lincoln Business College and has held the of- 
fice of Chairman of the County Board and is 
now County Clerk. He is a member of the Re- 
publican party. 

JOHN K. WARING is a native of New 
York City, the date of his birth being June 2, 
1863. Here he spent his boyhood and when 
fourteen years of age went with his parents 
to Illinois and a year later came to Fairmont, 
where he has since made his home. He gained 
his education in a correspondence school and 
studied law in Qiicago. Since 1897, when he 
was admitted to practice before the Supreme 
Court, he has been a member of the law firm 
of Curtiss & Waring. He was a member of 
the Board of Health in Fillmore County for 
several years, and is now County Attorney, 
elected on the Fusion ticket 

JOHN R. PATTERSON is a native of Scot- 
land, having been born in Kirkcaldy, Fifeshire, 
January 9, 1846. He came to Rockford, Illi- 
nois, when a young man of twenty-three and 
to Nebraska in 1878. He was conductor on the 
Esk Vallej' Railway in Scotland and has also 
leen engaged in fanning. He has held several 
offices, some of which are Justice of Peace for 
eleven years at Grafton, Chairman of the Vil- 
lage Board for two years, seventeen years on 
the Collections and Notary Board, and is now 
Judge of Fillmore County. He is politicall}' 
Re])ublican. 

J. L. ADAMS was born in Perry County, 
Pennsylvania, July 5, 1862, of Pennsylvania 
German parentage. In 1878 he removed to 
Ellsworth County, Kansas, and in 1888 to Fill- 
more County, where he has since remained. 
He has followed the vocation of teacher, and 
has been honored with an election to the office 
of Superintendent of Public Instruction. He 
is a member of the Repulilican partv. 

E. J. DEMPSTER was born in Rochelle, 111- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



219 






\V. E. HENRY. M. V. K-NG. JOHN R. PATTERSON. E. D. BE.ACH. J. I.. AD.XMS. 




E. J. DEMPSTER. 






H. S. PAGE. 



B. B. OGG. 



Fillmore County Court House 

inois, in ISGT. Three years later his parents 
moved to Gage County, Nebraska, and in 187- 
settled on a farm in FiHmore County, where 
Mr. Dempster has resided ever since. He 
graduated from the Geneva High School and 




JOHM K. WARING. 



has been engaged in banking. Mr. Dempster 
is a member of the Republican party and is the 
Treasurer of Fillmore County. 

H. S. PAGE was born in Jefiferson County, 
Nebraska, June 1, 1872. In 1885 he removed 
with his parents to Wichita, Kansas, where he 
resided until 1897, at which time he came to 
Fillmore County, his present home, where he 
is engaged in the barber business. Mr. Page 
is affiliated with the Populist party and has 
been elected Sheriflf on that ticket. 

HENRY L. BADGER was born May 26, 



1839, in East Granby, Connecticut, from 
whence he removed to Delaware County, Ohio, 
in 1834. In 1858 he went to Iowa and two 
years later returned to Illinois. He settled in 
Fillmore County, Nebraska, in 1868, and was 
the Registrar of Voters for the County's or- 
ganization in 1871. By vocation he is a sur- 
veyor and has served as County Surveyor off 
and on since 1871. He was educated in the 
public schools and University. Mr. Badger is 
a member of the Republican party and the Sur- 
veyor of Fillmore County. 



220 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



B. B. OGG was born in Sangamon County, 
Illinois, January 10, 1850. When a young 
man he came to FiUmore County and engaged 
in stock buying. He was Sheriff of Fillmore 
County for four years and has been elected 
County Assessor on the Fusion ticket. 

W. E. HENRY was born in Fairmont, Ne- 
braska, October 7, 1883. He removed from 
there to Geneva and took up by appointment 
the office of Clerk of the District Court, left 
vacant by the death of his father, W. C. 
Henry, May 21, 1904. He was educated at the 
Fairmont High School and held the office of 
Deputy Clerk of the District Court prior to 
this appointment. 

E. D. BEACH was born in Columbia, Wis- 
consin, December 8, 1865. In 1870 he removed 



with his parents to Sterling, Illinois, and nine 
years later came to Fillmore County, where he 
engaged in farming and the insurance business. 
He is connected with the Republican party and 
has served his constituents as County Commis- 
sioner and Chairman of the County Board of 
Supervisors. 

M. V. KING is a native of Iowa, having 
been born in Lee County, January 24, 1844. 
When eleven years of age he removed to Tay- 
lor County, Iowa, with his parents and in 1884 
came to Geneva, his present home. He has 
held various positions, such as Sheriff and 
Treasurer of Taylor County, Iowa, Postmaster 
at Geneva, Nebraska, four years, Chairman of 
the Board of Supervisors two years and is now 
Deputy Treasurer. He is the publisher of the 
Fillmore County Republican. 



FRANKLIN COUNTY. 



In the first place, Franklin County was set- 
tled by three colonies, composed mostly of 
Omaha men, the Thompson Colony, the Re- 
publican Valley Land Claim Association and a 
colony composed entirely of colored people 
The first homestead claim was taken by Bar- 
net Ashburne of the Thompson colony. All 
three colonies laid out towns, but Franklin, of 
the Republican Valley Colony, was the only 
one which materialized. The colored colony 
becoming disheartened and financially embar- 
rassed, left the county. Franklin County was 
organized in 1871, with an area of 576 square 
miles. The surface is mostly composed of roll- 
ing upland, which slopes gradually in terraces 
to the bottom. Eighty per cent of the soil is 
tillable, and the rest, comprising ravines and 
sandy places, is suitable for grazing purposes. 
The farm products are corn, wheat, rye, sorg- 
hum, hay and alfalfa. The Republican River 
flows through the county from west to east. 
This river has a large number of tributaries, 
many of which have underground passages in 
portions of their courses. During 1871 provi- 
sion was made against the Indians by the sta- 
tioning of a military guard about two miles 
above the mouth of Turkey Creek, although 
this precaution was found to be unnecessary. 
At this time most of the houses were either log 
or sod, but they proved warm enough to with- 
stand the hard winter of 1871 and 1872. There 
was plenty of native timber for fuel, and 



though food was scarce, buffalo, antelope and 
wild turkeys were to be obtained. The county 
was quite thickly settled in 1872. At first the 
county seat was at Franklin, but after a long 
contention it was transferred to Bloomington. 
In 1875 Franklin County was given first place 
at the State Fair as to the quality of its farm 
produce and again the next year it had the 
honor of being the banner county in this re- 
spect. The soil is especially fertile, and land 
has increased to the value of one-third since 
1897. There are 3,396 school children, 2,834 of 
whom are enrolled in the county schools. Over 
forty pupils received the common school diplo- 
mas at the close of the year 1902. 

EDWARD M. SHORT was born in Polo, 
Illinois, May 20, 1867. In 1869 he removed 
with his parents to Iowa and two years later 
came to Nebraska. He is a graduate of the 
Nelson High School and the University of Ne- 
braska. In the Sioux Indian War he served as 
Lieutenant of the First Nebraska National 
Guard, Company H, and afterwards became 
Captain. In 1901 he married Miss Mamie Pa- 
ger of Franklin, Nebraska. He was admitted 
to the bar in 1892, but never practiced law, en- 
gaging instead in teaching. He is connected 
with the Republican party and has been elected 
County Superintendent. 

DAVID F. WALRATII was born in Wis- 
consin, May 29, 1857. In 1887 he came to Ne- 
braska, engaging in the livery and feed busi- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



221 




JOHN PARKER, Jr. DAVID F. WAI.RATH. MYCHEL HUFFMAN C. F. DIEDRICH. CHARLES C. BROWN 




EDWARD M. HUSSONG 





EDWARD M. SHORT 



Franklin County Court House 



ness until 1898, when lie began farmina:. In 
1876 he married Miss Jennie Kisor of Minne- 
sota and has four children. He is connected 
with the Democratic party and holds the office 
of Sheriff of Franklin County. 

J. E. THOMPSON was 'born in Franklin 
County, Nebraska, July 6, 1874. In 1885 he 
moved to Franklin, residing there with his par- 
ents until 1894, when he began teaching school. 
He received his education in the Franklin High 
School and Franklin Academy. He has held 
the office of Deputy Postmaster of Franklin, 
Nebraska, and is affiliated with the Republican 
party. He has been elected Clerk of the Dis- 
trict Court. 

JOHN PARKER. JR., was born in Cass 
County, Michigan, April 14, 1853. In 1878 he 
came to Nebraska, engaging in farming until 



1887, when he went into the real estate busi- 
ness. He was educated in the common schools 
He married Miss Mary Williams in 1875 an:? 
they have four children. He is affiliated with 
the Republican party and was elected County 
Clerk of Franklin County. 

MYCHEL HUFFMAN was born in Bour- 
bon County, Kentucky, February 10, 1836. He 
came to Nebraska in 1875, engaging m farming 
in Franklin County, where he has since re- 
sided. He received a common school educa- 
tion and in 1847 married Miss Sarah Shelley. 
They are the parents of six children living and 
have about forty-one grandchildren and thirty 
great-grandchildren. He is a member of the 
Populist party and has held the office of 
County Judge at different times for five terms. 

CHARLES C. BROWN was born in Peoria 



222 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



County, Illinois, in 1870 and two years later 
came to. Franklin County, Nebraska, and has 
been a resident of the county ever since, where 
he has been engaged in farming. He received 
his education in the Bloomington High School 
and the Normal at that place, and clerked in a 
general store for twelve years. He is a mem- 
ber of the Democratic party and has served one 
term as Deputy Sheriff and two terms as Dep- 
uty Treasurer and has been elected Treasurer. 
EDWARD M. HUSSONG, B. Sc, B. Fed , 
C. E., was born December 10, 186-1, in Ontario, 
Iowa. He went to Kansas in 18T1 and came to 
Nelson, Nebraska, in lSS-1. Eight years later 
he went to Franklin, Nebraska, and in 1901 
came to Bloomington. He received his educa- 
tion in the Iowa State College, Kansas State 
Normal School and the University of Ne- 
braska, graduating from the Scientific, Clas- 
sical, Normal and Civil Engineering courses. 
Mr. Hussong is the Superintendent of the 
Bloomington city schools. He was married to 
Miss Minnie M. Coin of Glenwood Springs. 



Colorado, in 1893, and they have six children. 
He is a member of the People's Independent 
Party and served two terms as Superintendent 
of Franklin County. He is now the Surveyor 
of this county. 

C. F. DIEDERICH was born in Hanover, 
Indiana, October 12, 1861. In 1884 he came to 
Nebraska, engaging in farming and stock rais- 
ing. His education was obtained in the public 
schools of Indiana. In 1902 he married Miss 
Emma Rasch. Mr. Diederich is the Chairman 
of the Board of County Supervisors. 

LEONARD E. HOLMES was born in 
Franklin, Nebraska, February 15, 1874. 
His father came to Nebraska in 1873 and car- 
ried the mail by stage route from Guide Rock 
west until the coming of the railroad. He re- 
ceived his education in the Lincoln Business 
College and engaged in the newspaper business 
for about ten years in Hamilton County. In 
1894 he married Miss Emma Morrison of Au- 
rora, Nebraska. He is Republican in politics. 



FRONTIER COUNTY. 



Frontier County covers 972 square miles in 
the southwestern part of the state. Its sur- 
face is rough, being intersected b}^ many 
draws and canyons. The principal water 
course is Little Medicine Creek with its tribu- 
taries, along the banks of which there is a 
large growth of timber. These bottom lands 
are low, broad and fertile, with a covering of 
thick hi,gh grass. These lowlands are subject 
to overflow and are capable of producing 
splendid crops. There are many other creeks 
which are a great advantage in stock raising. 
Alfalfa raising is very profitable and winter 
wheat is the most successful of the grains. 
The county was organized in 1872 with a pop- 
ulation consisting of a number of stock raisers 
and two permanent settlers. The latter were 
Mortimer C. and Henry H. Clifford, who had 
married Indian squaws and settled on Little 
Medicine Creek above the present county seat, 
Stockville. This location was chosen by the 
cattle men because of the advanta.ges offered 
for stock. These men were afraid that an 
influx of farmers would spoil their industry. 
Therefore they hastened to have the countv 
organized in order that they might pass a law 
compelling farmers to fence their lands so that 



cattle might have free range. The population 
is 8,781, 2,793 of whom are school children. 

J. A. WILLIAMS, County Judge, was born 
in LaPorte County, Indiana, February 17, 
1S5T), where he lived until he was twenty, 
when he went to Iowa, and thirteen years 
later came to Nebraska. In 1890 he married 
Miss Stella Beauvais and they have five chil- 
dren. He has practiced law since his residence 
in Nebraska, has been elected County Attor- 
ney on the Republican ticket for one term, and 
is now serving his second term as County 
Judge. 

L. H. CHENEY was born in Cattaraugua 
County, New York, June 24, 1864, and in his 
si.xth year his parents removed to Nebraska, 
settling in Lincoln, where he lived until 1891. 
He was educated at the LTniversity of Ne- 
braska, taking liis A. B. in 1887 and, his LL. B. 
in Michigan University three years later. In 
1891 he came to Frontier County and h:is 
since made it his home. He married Miss 
Clara Vance in 1894 and they have two chil- 
dren. Mr. Cheney is serving his third term as 
County Attorney. 

E .P. PYLE is a native of Ohio,, having been 
born in Mercer County, April 9, 1858. In 1884 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



223 




GEORGE J. DOLD. p;. !■. pyi.].:. HAX3 C. RdGICUS. J. B. RICE. 



1.. H. CHENIOV. 




J. S. PERKINS. 



JOHN C. GAMMir.r.. JACOB SCHERER. CLARA L. DOBSON. 



E. L. HALL. 




Frontier County Court House 

he removed to Tennessee and six years later 
to Nebraska, where lie has since remained. 



He is a graduate of Lexingtoi. high school and 
has practiced law in the three states of which 
he has been a resident. He has been County 
Judge three terms and is now serving his sec- 
ond term as County Treasurer. In 1898 ho 
married Miss Bertha James and they have tv.-i> 
children. 

CLARA L. DOnSON was born in Des 
Moines, Iowa, in October, 1861. She was edu- 
cated in Simpson College, taking her Ph. M. 
in 1886. After having taught two years, she 
married W. J. Dobson, who had charge of sev- 
eral schools in Iowa before settling in Ne- 
braska. After the death of Mr. Dobson, Mrs. 
Dobson taught one year and was then elected 
to the position of County Superintendent of 
Frontier County, now serving the third term. 
Her father was killed at Milliken's Bend in 
the Civil War, being a memcbr of the Twenty- 
third Iowa Volunteers. She has one son. 

E. L. HALL, grain dealer and farmer, was 
born in Oneida County, New York, November 
a, 1852, where he resided until his sixteenth 
year, when he reiiioved to Iowa. Ten years 



224 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



later he came to Nebraska. He is a graduate 
of the Rome, New York, high school and was 
married to Miss Dora Fuller in 1870. His 
father served in the 117th New York Infantry, 
Company H, and was killed at Fortress Mon- 
roe. Mr. Hall is affiliated with the Republi- 
can party and has served the county three 
times in the capacity of County Clerk. 

JOHN C. GAMMILL is a native of Ohio, 
having been born in Columbiana County, Feb- 
ruary 6, 1842, whence he removed to Iowa 
when a boy. He was educated in the common 
schools and served through the Civil War, 
rising to the rank of Captain. After the War 
he married Miss May Phillips and they have 
eight children. Since 1874 he has lived in Ne- 
braska excepting four years in Iowa. He was 
a County Treasurer in Iowa and has been 
Clerk of Frontier County and is now serving 
his second term as Clerk of the District Court, 
being a member of the Republican party. 

J. S. PERKINS was born in Alleghany 
County, Maryland, September 9, 1847, whence 
his parents removed to Virginia, when he was 
six years of age. There he was educated and 
entered the Sixth West Virginia Infantry and 
served through two years of the Civil War. 
October 10, 1867 he married Miss Mary Sayre, 
to whom was born one son. He is a staunch 
Republican, having voted the ticket when in 
the army at the age of seventeen. He was 
County Assessor in West Virginia for eight 
years and is now Sheriff of Frontier County. 

HANS C. ROGERS is a native of Denmark 
and was born February 2, 1847. He graduated 
from the Civil Engineering course of a gov- 
ernment college of Denmark and served in the 
Danish Army in the War of 1863 and 1864 as 
Second Lieutenant. He came to New York in 



1S70 and settled in Muskegon County, Michi- 
gan, removing from there to Frontier County, 
Nebraska in 1879. Mr. Rogers was Post- 
master at Orafino, Nebraska, from 1880 to 
1886. He is a member of the Republican party 
and has twice been elected Surveyor of Fron- 
tier County. He is also a school moderator 
and Justice of the Peace. 

GEORGE J. DOLD was born in Sheboy- 
gan, Wisconsin, January 4, 1869, and his par- 
ents came to Otoe County, Nebraska, when 
he was two years old. He was educated there 
and came to Frontier County in 1888, where 
he has since lived. He is of German parent- 
age, his father and mother having come from 
Germany when young people. Mr. Dold is a 
Populist and is Chairman of the County Com- 
missioners of Frontier County. 

JACOB SCHERER, a native of Iowa, was 
born in Clay County, May 14, 1851. He re- 
sided there until his twenty-seventh year, 
when he came to Nebraska and has since made 
this state his home. In 1876 he married Miss 
Elzina Jessup and they have five children. He 
has followed the occupation of farming and is 
serving his first term as County Commis- 
sioner. 

J. B. RICE was born in Fayette County, 
Pennsylvania, February 18, 1847, removing to 
Ohio in his seventh year, and in 1882 settled 
in Nebraska. He has been engaged in farm- 
ing and stock raising. He received a common 
school education in Ohio and during a four 
years residence in Illinois. In 1889 he was 
married to Miss Louella Lydic and they have 
four children. He was County Commissioner 
from 1888 to 1891 and has been re-elected to 
that office on the Republican ticket. 



FURNAS COUNTY. 



The pioneer settler of Furnas County was 
Benjamin Burton, a ranchman who established 
himself at the mouth of Deer Creek about six 
miles above Arapahoe. His nearest neighbor 
lived about 100 miles distant. He found a 
fine grazing land and an ample supply of 
water for his stock. A territory in the south- 
ern part of the state 24 miles from north to 
south and 30 miles from east to west was or- 
ganized as Furnas County in 1873. The prin- 
■cipal water power is found in the Republican 



River. Sappa, Beaver, Elk and Muddy are the 
names of the principal creeks. On the up- 
lands the wells vary from 60 to 150 feet deep 
and in the lowlands from 10 to 40 feet. The 
soil is dark, sandy and very fertile. Land for 
alfalfa raising is in good demand. Apples, 
peach, plum, cherry and apricot trees flourish 
here. The timber along the waterways cannot 
be utilized for lumber to any extent, but it 
makes a valuable source of fuel supply. A 
Plattsmouth town company laid out the first 



COVSTY HISTORY. 



22S 







A. R. PERRY. 



T. HEDGES. 



v.. F. MOORE. 



R. W. MOORE. 




H. GUPTON 



Furnas County Court House 
Photo by C. H. Ayers, Beaver City, Nebraska 



town and christened it Arapahoe. Here the 
first postoffice was established in 1872 with 
Geo. W. Love as Postmaster. As the sod had 
to be broken up in 1872, there were of course 
no crops until the succeeding year. During 
this time, suppHes had to be hauled with great 
difficulty from towns 100 to 150 miles distant. 
The first birth recorded in the new county was 
that of a child of Frank Griffith. The nearest 
postoffice was at Alma in the next county 
twenty-five miles away, and the mail was 
brought weekly by voluntary carriers. A po- 
litical war was waged for many years between 
the north and south, Arapahoe and Beaver 
City being the contending factions. The lat- 
ter is now the capital city with a population 



of !)11. The county was named in honor of 
Robert W. Furnas, then Governor of Ne- 
braska. Land has increased one-third in value 
in the last five years, and farms are in good 
demand, 12,373 people now inhabiting the 
county, and there are 3,921 children of school 
age. 

R. H. ROHR is a native of Indiana, born in 
Wells County, October 13, 1841. When four- 
teen he went to Iowa with his parents and 
came to Nebraska in 1874. During the Civil 
War he served in the Tenth Iowa Infantry, 
being wounded at the battle of Champion Hills 
and at the storming of Vicksburg. After the 
war he married Miss Sarah Newbrough and 
they have three children. He was a member 



226 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



of the Fifteenth Session of the Nebraska Leg- 
islature and has been elected County Judge on 
the Populist ticket. 

T. HEDGES was born in Washington 
Countv, New York, July 28, 1837. He moved 
to Illinois in 1872 and to Nebraska in 1878. 
He was educated in Greenwich Academy and 
Stratton's Commercial School, New York. 
During the Civil War he was First Lieutenant 
in the Second New York Cavalry, serving on 
the staff of Generals Kilpatrick and Sheridan. 
In ISfiS he married Miss Anna Simpson. He 
has been elected Clerk of the District Court 
on the Republican ticket. 

A. R. PERRY is a native of New York, 
having been born in Oswego, July 24, 1849. 
He removed to Ohio with his parents in 186-1 
and graduated from the high school at Has- 
kins. Pie taught school in that state thirteen 
terms and came to Nebraska in 1885. He has 
been married twice, and has seven children. 
While he lived in Gosper County he held the 
office of Deputy Clerk and was County Treas- 
urer for four years. He has been elected 
County Clerk of Furnas County on the Popu- 
list ticket. 

B. F. MOORE was born in Guthrie County, 
Iowa, March 22, 1869. Came to Furnas 
County with his parents in 1879 and is a grad- 
uate of the Beaver City high school. In 1890 
he married Miss Florence Keep and they have 
three children. He has taught school, been 
manager of a lumber yard and worked for 
five years in the mercantile business at Hend- 
ley, Nebraska. After serving two terms as 
Deputy Treasurer he w^as elected Treasurer on 
the Populist ticket. 

F. G. DOWNING was born in Mount Ayr, 
Iowa, January .30, 1870, his parents coming to 
Nebraska in 1873. He was educated in the 
Lincoln Normal and the State L^niversitv, 



after which he taught school, being Principal 
of the Beaver City high school for ten years. 
In 1891 he married Miss Amy ^Mitchell and 
has two children. He is a member of the Re- 
publican party and has been elected Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction in Furnas 
County. 

R. W. MOORE is a native Nebraskan, hav- 
ing been born May 15, 1882 in Furnas County, 
where he has since resided. He graduated 
from the high school at Colorado Springs and 
the Henager Business College in 1902. He 
taught at the Business College during 1903 
and was appointed Deputy County Treasurer 
the following winter. He is a member of the 
Populist party. 

J. M. MOHNEY was born in New Marys- 
ville, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1863, where 
he was educated in the Normal School, after- 
wards graduating from the law course at Ann 
Arbor. He began teaching in the Pennsyl- 
vania schools and then became Principal of 
schools and city superintendent, later travel- 
ing all over the United States as a salesman. 
In 1898 he practiced law in Grand Rapids, 
^Michigan, and the next year came to Nebraska, 
his present home. He married Miss Hattie 
Sunday in 1901 and they have one daughter. 
He has been elected County Attorney for the 
second time on the Republican ticket. 

P. H. GUPTON was born in Christon 
County, Kentucky, April 5, 1850, of Virginian 
parentage. He lived there the first forty years 
of his life, serving three years as Constable, 
and four as Sheriff, in that state. In 1890 he 
came to Nebraska, settling in Oxford, his pres- 
ent home. He has served three years as Mayor 
of Oxford. In 1883 he. marrie'd Miss Hattie 
Cooper and they have six children. He is a 
member of the Democratic party. 



GAGE COUNTY. 



Gage County possesses the largest water 
power in the state. The Blue River, with its 
nine tributaries, drains almost the entire 
county, which has an area of 864 square miles. 
The soil has a depth of from one to five feet 
with a clay subsoil. The land, which is mostly 
rolling prairie, has doubled in value during the 
last five years. In 1899 Gage County produced 
over 8,000,000 bushels of corn and the poultry 



industry yielded 1,000,000 dozen eggs. In the 
south large quantities of limestone and brick 
clay are found along the Blue River. David 
Palmer was the first resident of Gage County 
in 1854 or 1855. He was accompanied by an 
agent of the Goverrjment who came to pay the 
Indians. The first important settlement was 
made under rather . romantic conditions. A 
steamer, whose route lav between St. Louis 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



227 






liEONARD W. COLBY. W, W. WRIGHT. A. H. BABCOCK. H. E. SACKETT. CHARLES L. REED. 




A. JOHNSON. 





JOHN R. QUEIN. 



Gage County Court House 



and Nebraska City on the Missouri River, was 
making its slow passage in the spring of 1857 
with about 300 passengers. Most of these 
were men who were seeking their fortunes in 
the west, and many nationalities and states 
were represented. At length 35 of these men 
organized themselves into a town company. 
Being attracted by the splendid water and 
timber supplies of Gage County, they decided 
to locate the town here, so they proceeded to 
lay out the town of Beatrice, which they 
named in honor of the daughter of Judge Kin- 
ney, who was one of their number. The first 
mail route was established in 1860, extending 
from Nebraska City, by way of Beatrice, to 
Marysville, Kansas. The progress was slow 
until the coming of the railroad, and then the 
population increased rapidly for two or three 
years until the grasshopper visitation in 1874. 
The first schoolhouse was built at Beatrice in 
1862, and Mrs. Frances Butler taught the fif- 
teen pupils. Since then the number of pupils 



has increased to 10,378. The first newspaper 
was the Blue Valley Record, which was pub- 
lished by J. R. Nelson in 1867. Hon. A. S. 
Paddock of Gage County was the first U. S. 
Senator from Nebraska. Hon. J. B. Weston, 
one of the original Town Company, was State 
Auditor in 1875. Gage County has a popula- 
tion of 30,051. It has good railway advan- 
tages. 

"W. W. WRIGHT was born in Huron 
County, Ohio, April 8, 1857, of English parent- 
age. In 1880 he came to Gage County and en- 
gaged in farming and school teaching for sev- 
eral years. He received his education in the 
public schools of Ohio and attended Baldwin 
l^niversity for one vear. In 1903 he married 
Miss Tillie Kuhn of Flat Rock, Ohio. While 
in (ilue Springs and Wymore, Nebraska, he 
held the office of Justice of Peace. He is a 
member of the Republican party and is now 
Treasurer of Gage County. 

JAMES R. PLASTERS was born in John- 



228 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



son County, Nebraska, December IG, 1868. He 
spent his boyhood on the farm, receiving a dis- 
trict school "education in Gage County. After 
finishing his schooling he followed the occupa- 
tion of farming. He was Deputy Clerk for 
eight years and has been elected County Clerk. 
FRED E. BOURNE was born m Macomb. 
Illinois, March 4, 1864, of New England de- 
scent. In 1885 he came to Nebraska, engaging 
in school teaching and reading law. He gained 
his education in the Public School and stud- 
ied in a law office. Since he has been in Bea- 
trice he has practiced law and is now serving 
his third term as County Judge. 

MISS ANNA V. DAY was born in Brad- 
ford, Vermont, July 4, 1874. In the fall of 
1888 she came to Beatrice, Nebraska, where 
she has since resided. Her education was 
gained in the Beatrice High School and the 
University of Nebraska. She has a wide expe- 
rience as a teacher and was elected County 
Superintendent of Public Instruction on the 
Republican ticket. 

CHARLES L. REED was born in Iron 
County, Illinois, September 19, 1858. In 1883 
he came to Nebraska, engaging in farming 
and teaching school. He received his educa- 
tion in the Illinois public schools, is affiliated 
with the Republican party and is now serving 
his second term as Register of Deeds in Gage 
County. 

JOHN R. QUEIN was born in Pennsville, 
Morgan County, Ohio, June 12, 1871. He came 
to Nebraska with his parents when si.x years 
of age and since then has made it his home. 
He graduated from the Odell High School in 
1891. He enlisted in Company C, First Ne- 
braska Volunteers, in May, 1898, and served 
with the regiment in every engagement, and 
was mustered out August 2.3, 1899, at San 
Francisco, California. In 1900 he was elected 
Clerk of the Gage County Court and in 1903 
elected Clerk of the District Court on the Re- 
publican ticket. 

HARRY E. SACKETT was born in War- 
ren, Ohio, October 10, 1874. In his boyhood 
he removed to Missouri and at the age of 
twelve years returned to Ohio, coming to Ne- 
braska in 1893. He was educated in the 
schools of Ohio, Missouri and Nebraska and 
in 1898 graduated from the Nebraska College 
of Law. In 1900 he was elected County At- 
torney of Gage County and re-elected in 1902, 
having been nominated without an opposing 
candidate. He is a member of the Republican 



party. He was married to Hermina Reynolds 
of Beatrice, September 27, 1899. 

A. J. PETHOUD, a civil engineer and the 
surveyor of Gage County, came to Ne- 
braska in 1858 and settled in Gage County, 
where he has since lived. He was born April 
10, 1840, in Lawrence County, Ohio, where he 
was educated, having gained his knowledge of 
the higher branches under private tutors. Mr. 
Pethoud is associated with the Democratic 
part}^ and has served the public as City En- 
gineer and County Surveyor for several terms 
and has twice been County Clerk of Gage 
County. 

H. W. SCOTT was born in Cane County, 
Illinois, February 14, 1859, and received his 
education in the Caneville High School. He 
came to Nebraska in 1884 and is engaged in 
the furniture business at Beatrice, where he 
has been a merchant all the time since he 
came to the state, even while in office. He 
was married to Mabel H. Cook in 1885 and 
they have four children. Mr. Scott, a Repub- 
lican, has been City Treasurer of Beatrice four 
years and two years a member of the City 
Council, and at present is the Assessor of 
Gage County. 

SAMUEL BIVENS was born August 2, 
1837, at Waverly, Ohio, where he grew to 
manhood and received his education, his par- 
ents having come there from New Jersey. In 
1865 he removed to Illinois, where he was 
County Treasurer for thirteen years. He was 
married to Eva Cavington in 1883 and they 
have four children. Mr. Bivens came to Ne- 
braska in 1889 and has engaged in the mercan- 
tile business. Politically he is a Republican 
and was a member of the City Council four 
years, has been a member of the Board of 
County Supervisors for ten years and at pres- 
ent is Chairman, which position he has occu- 
pied for three terms. 

J. E. PRIEST was born on a farm at Peoria, 
Illinois, in Jun, 1869, and settled in Gage 
County, Nebraska, in 1886. He received his 
education in the Public Schools and the Busi- 
ness College at Lincoln, Nebraska. Mr. Priest 
is both a teacher and a farmer and is a member 
of the Board of County Supervisors of Gage 
County. He was married to Jennie Barry of 
Gage County in 1893 and they have six chil- 
dren. 

A. H. BABCOCK was born June 4, 1836, in 
Steuben County, New York, and in the same 
year his parents went to Michigan, where he 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



229 



prepared for college in the seminary at Ypsi- 
lanti, taking a classical course, cind then en- 
tered Ann Arbor Law School. He went to the 
war before finishing his course, but completed 
it in 18(i8. He enlisted in Company H of the 
Eighth Michigan Volunteers and afterwards 
became Captain of Company E and was a 
member of General R. S. Granger's stafT. In 
1S69 he came to Nebraska and located at Paw- 
nee City, where he practiced law until 1880, 
when he removed to Beatrice. Mr. Babcock 
was a representative from Pawnee in the State 
Legislature of 1873 and 1874. He was mar- 
ried to Jemath DuBois of Atlanta, Georgia, in 
1880, and they have two children. Mrs. Bab- 
cock died in September, 1892. He is associated 
with the Republican party and was elected 
District Judge of the First District in 1892, 
serving four years, and was re-elected in 1903 
for another term. He received a commission 
from the Governor to fill the vacancy caused 
by the resignation of Judge Letton and conse- 
quently filled two positions. 

LEONARD A\'. COLBY, usually known as 
General Colby, of Beatrice. Nebraska, was 



born in Ashtabula County, Ohio, August 5, 
1848. His boyhood was spent in Illinois on a 
farm, until 1863, when he enlisted in Com- 
pany B, Eighth Illinois Infantry, with which 
he served as a private until the close of the 
war. He graduated from the High School at 
Freeport, Illinois, in 1867, and thereafter grad- 
uated from the Classical, Engineering and Law 
Departments of the LTniversity of Wisconsin. 
He came to Nebraska in 1872 and engaged in 
the practice of law, in which profession he is 
still engaged. General Colby has served two 
terms in the State Senate of Nebraska and 
was Assistant Attorney General of the United 
States during President Harrison's Adminis- 
tration. He is Republican in politics. He has 
a long record for military service, having been 
two years Colonel, nine years Brigadier Gen- 
eral, two years Adjutant General of Nebraska, 
and one year Brigadier General of United 
States Volunteers in the Spanish-American 
War. He had command of a battalion in the 
Indian War of 1877 and of a Brigade of Ne- 
braska State Troops in the Sioux Indian War 
of 1890-91. 



GARFIELD COUNTY. 



Garfield County is well adapted to raising 
cattle and sheep. A large area of good pasture 
and hay land has already been taken up and at 
present there is a demand for ranches in this 
section. About forty per cent of the surface is 
tillable, the soil being a dark, sandy loam. 
Cedar and Loup Rivers and smaller streams 
aiTord good drainage. Wells are from twenty- 
five to three hundred feet deep and the supply 
of water is everywhere abundant. The princi- 
pal trees are ash, box elder and Cottonwood, 
Plums, cherries, raspberries and small fruits do 
well. Alfalfa has been cultivated to a very 
limited extent, but with satisfactory results, 
and sugar beets have proved very successful. 
The value of land has increased fifty per cent 
since 1897, selling at from $3.00 to $50.00 per 
acre. There is one grist mill and one brick- 
yard in the county. Garfield County was or- 
ganized in 1884 with an area of 576 square 
miles. It only has 4.17 miles of railway and 
the population is 2,127. Burwell, the county 
seat and onlv town, has a population of 460. 

GRACE E. McCLIMANS was born Octo- 
ber 31, 1881, three miles east of Burwell, Ne- 



braska, on the old homestead taken by her 
father in the early seventies. She received her 
education in the high schools at Burwell and 
Clarinda, Iowa, and has taught school in both 
Iowa and Nebraska. Her mother came to this 
county in 1876 with her husband and still lives 
on the homestead. Miss McClimans is a mem- 
ber of the Populist party and is serving her 
first term as Superintendent of Garfield 
County. 

W. C. JOHNS was born in Green County, 
Wisconsin, in 1863. His parents came to what 
is now Garfield County in 1878. He received 
his education in the public schools of Wiscon- 
sin and Nebraska, and was married to Miss 
Anna Beauchamp of Fort Hartsufif, Nebraska, 
in 1892. Mr. Johns taught school and has been 
engaged in farming and ranching and has a 
half interest in the grocery store of Johns & 
Tunncliflfe at Burwell. He is a member of the 
Republican party and was Sheriff of Wheeler 
County just before the organization of Gar- 
field County, of which he was the first Sheriff, 
lie is serving his second term as County 



230 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




JAMES BARR. T. M. CLARK. 



H. J. COFFIN. J. W. BROCKUS. D. S. BEYNON. 




K« 




GEORGE S. TODD. WILLIAM DRAVER. GRACE E. MeCLIMANS T. G. HEMMETT. 



W. C. JOHNS. 




Garfield County Court House 

Treasurer and has been County Superintend- 
ent. 

GEORGE S. TODD was born February 34, 
1841, at McComb, Ohio. In 1854 his parents 
removed to Cedar County, Iowa, where he re- 
ceived his education. He enlisted July 14, 



1862, in Company B of the Twenty-fourth 
Iowa, and was mustered out at Port Gibson, 
Mississippi, April 10, 1865. He was a partici- 
pant in the battles of Champion Hill and Black 
River Bridge and the Siege of Vicksburg. He 
was married to Miss Eda L. Brainard of Wy- 
oming, Iowa, in 1866, and thej' have seven 
children living. Mr. Todd homesteaded in 
Garfield County in 1901 and is serving his first 
term as County Judge, having been elected on 
the Republican ticket. 

T. G. HEMMETT was born in Niagara 
County, New York, March 9, 1850. His par- 
' nts went to Allegan County, Michigan, where 
ihey engaged in farming until 1875, when they 
came to Garfield County, Nebraska. Mr. 
Hemmett took a homestead here in 1887. He 
was Clerk of Wheeler County in 1885 and after 
the organization of Garfield County was 
elected Clerk in 1894, serving three consecu- 
tive terms, and was re-elected in 1903. Mr, 
Hemmett is one of the oldest settlers of the 
county, having settled here when the nearest 
trading post was Grand Island, ninety miles 
distant. 

CYRUS O. BROWN was born in Roches- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



B31 



ter, Cedar County, Iowa, December 2, ISfiG. 
From Iowa he went to South Dakota in 1883. 
He graduated from the South Dakota Agricul- 
tural College in 1894, receiving the degree of 
B. S., and in 1898 received his LL. B. from the 
University of Nebraska. He is a member of 
the Republican party, and is serving as Attor- 
ney of Garfield County. 

A. A. WATERS was born in DeKalb 
County, Indiana, March 21, 1866. Twenty 
years later he came to Wheeler County, Ne- 
braska, and took a homestead, which he af- 
terwards sold and now has a half section in 
Garfield County. His father served during 
the Civil War in Company A of the 100th In- 
diana. Mr. Waters married Miss Mary Mar- 
low of Wheeler County in 1893, and they have 
adopted two children. He is associated with 
the Republican party, was Deputy Sheriff of 
Wheeler County six years and is now serving 
his first term as Sheriff of Garfield County. 

J. W. BROCKUS is a native of Indiana, 
having been born September 1, 1851, in Carroll 
County, from whence he came to Iowa with 
his parents in 1855. In 1879 he came to Gar- 
field County, but homesteaded in Valley 
County that same year. He still owns the 
homestead, but returned to Garfield County in 
1900. He owns a section of farm land, one- 
fourth of it being in Garfield County and the 
remainder in Valley County. Mr. Brockus is a 
member of the Populist party and is serving 
his second term as County Commissioner. He 
has also been Constable and Justice of the 
Peace. He was married to Miss Mary HoUis 
of Bremer County, Indiana, in 1872, and they 
have one son, aged twenty-two. 

D. S. BEYNON settled in Garfield County, 
Nebraska, July 3, 1886, and four years later 
passed the state examination in pharmacy at 
Beatrice, Nebraska, and is now engaged in the 
drug business at Burwell. He was born De- 
cember 5, 1856, at Albia, Iowa. Mr. Beynon 
has been a member of the school board at Bur- 
well for ten years. Chairman of the village 
board several years. Deputy Sheriff two terms 
and for seven years Postmaster, which posi- 
tion he now holds. December 3, 1883, he was 
married to Miss Christina J. Cornelia of Albia, 
Iowa, and they have four children. 

JAMES BARR is a native Scotchman, hav- 
ing been born in April, 1845, at Glasgow. His 
father was a stone mason and contractor; also 
a bridge builder. He put in the masonry on 
one of the first Ijridges to span the Mississippi 



River. Mr. Barr came to the United States 
with his parents in 1850 and settled at Chi- 
cago. He came to Nebraska in 1874 and took 
a homestead in what is now Garfield County in 
1875 and lives on the same at present. He is 
a Republican and was County Commissioner 
of Wheeler County just before its division. 
Mr. Barr drafted the petition for the division 
of Wheeler County, giving the county its 
name.. He was married to Miss Esther A. 
Abbott of Illinois in 1873, and they have one 
daughter. He sided the first frame house in 
Garfield County, hauling the lumber from 
Cirand Island, a distance of about ninety miles. 

H. J. COFFIN was born in Boston, Massa- 
chusetts, January 11, 18G0. In the spring of 
1878 he came to Schuyler, Nebraska, remain- 
ing there until 1883, when he went to Holt 
County. He took a homestead in Garfield 
County in 1884, but sold it later. After farm- 
ing in Nebraska for fifteen years, he went into 
the lumber business at Burwell in 1892. He 
was married to Miss Mary Halloran of Inman, 
Nebraska, in 1893, and they have three daugh- 
ters. Mr. Coffin has two quarter sections of 
land in the Loup Valley. He is a Republican 
and has been a member of the Board of County 
Coinmissioners of Garfield County and at pres- 
ent is acting as Chairman of the Town Board 
of Burwell. 

T. M. CLARK was born in Monroe County, 
Iowa, December 30, 1851. When a small boy 
he moved to Decatur County, Iowa, where he 
remained until 1870, and after traveling 
through Missouri, Indiana, Minnesota, Wy- 
oming, LTtah and Colorado, settled in what is 
now Garfield County, Nebraska, in 1880. He 
enlisted at Madison, Wisconsin, in the Four- 
teenth Infantry of the Regular Army and 
served nine years, engaging in the suppression 
of the Ute Outbreak in Colorado. Mr. Clark 
was married to Miss Clara Pitts of Gordon 
Grove, Iowa, in 1902. He is a member of the 
Republican party and is engaged in farming a 
quarter section of land in this county. 

WILLIAM DRAVER was born April 13, 
1840, on the Isle of Westray, near Scotland. 
Here he received his education and was mar- 
ried to Miss Ann Randal in 1861. He came 
to the United States with his parents in 186S 
and located in West County, Iowa, where he 
remained for five years, and then came to what 
is now Garfield County, Nebraska, in 1873. 
He pre-empted and homesteaded on coming to 
the countv and still lives on the old home- 



232 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



-stead. Mr. Draver and his brother-in-law were 
■among- the earliest settlers of Garfield County, 
and endured all the hardships of a frontier life. 
He had three dollars in money and one sack 



of flour on coming to the county, and used the 
three dollars to pre-empt. He and his chil- 
dren own about twenty-six hundred acres of 
land in this county. 



GOSPER COUNTY. 



There were no settlers in this county prior 
to 1872. In 1873 immigration became so large 
that it was thought necessary lo organize into 
a county. The soil is a dark, sandy loam with 
a silt subsoil. The people are engaged in stock 
raising and agriculture, and alfalfa is covering 
a wider range of land every year. The Platte 
and Elk, Turkey, West and East Muddy 
Creeks water the land. The county is situated 
on a high table land between the Platte and 
Republican Rivers. In the eastern part there 
is a strip of farm land from six to ten miles in 
width which is quite level. West of tliis is 
some very rough land, in which are found 
short, swift streams and many springs. The 
hills, being covered with rich grass, make a 
fine range for stock. The principal trees are the 
box elder, walnut and cottonwood. The depth 
of wells here varies from 5 to 325 feet. There 
are 1,778 county school children and 5,301 of 
general inhabitants. Elwood is the county 
seat. 

W. L. TILDEN is a native of Illinois, hav- 
ing been born in Henry County, July 19, 1870, 
whence he removed to York County, Ne- 
braska, when twelve years of age. He was ed- 
ucated in the high school of Bradshaw, Ne- 
braska. After seven years' residence in York 
County he settled in Gosper County, where he 
has since been engaged in the banking busi- 
ness at Elwood. He was in a bank at York 
for three years. He was married in 1899 to 
Miss Cora B. Willard, and they have one 
daughter. He is a Democrat in politics and 
is serving his first term as Treasurer of Gosper 
Countv. 

O. E. BOZARTH was born in Pope County, 
Illinois, February 12, 1868, and there grew to 
manhood, studying at the College of Valpa- 
raiso, Indiana, and afterwards reading law. 
He was admitted to the bar in 1897 and has 
practiced in both Illinois and Nebraska. He 
also taught school in Illinois for twelve years. 
In June, 1901, he came to Nebraska, and in 
December of the same year was married to 
Miss Stella ^Matthews of Lincoln, Illinois. Mr. 



Bozarth is the County Attorney of Gosper 
County, having been elected on the Independ- 
ent ticket. 

G. B. CHASE was born in Ontario County, 
New York, April 1, 1839; went to Michigan in 
1843, and came to Nebraska in 1880. During 
the Civil War he enlisted in Company C of the 
Fourth Michigan Cavalry, being a member of 
the regiment that captured JeiTerson Davis 
Five of his brothers also served in the Union 
Army, all in different companies. In 1865 he 
was married to Miss Martha Drennan, and 
they have eight children. Mr. Chase has also 
done considerable work as a Methodist minis- 
ter. He has been Justice of the Peace several 
times and was once County Commissioner and, 
as a member of the Populist party, is serving 
his sixth term as Judge of Gosper County. 

W. T. NOTT is a native of Henry County, 
Iowa, the date of his birth being October 22, 
1866. He grew to manhood in Iowa and re- 
ceived his education in the public schools of 
^^'ashington County, Iowa. In 1888 he came 
to Nebraska, engaging in farming and com- 
mercial work and also traveled for a harvester 
company. He was married to Miss Lorinda 
Park of Washington County, Iowa, in 1888, 
and they have two sons. Mr. Nott is a mem- 
ber of the Populist party, and has been elected 
Clerk of Gosper County. 

MILTON WTNSLOW was born in Grant 
County, Indiana, December 23, 1853, where he 
lived until his twenty-third year, when he went 
to Iowa and two years later came to Nebraska. 
He was educated in the common schools of In- 
diana. His ancestors were among the early 
settlers of New England. Mr. Winslow was 
married to Miss Viola May Miller in 1881, and 
they have four children. He is serving his sec- 
ond term as SherilT of Gosper County, and is 
associated with the Populist party. 

W. M. UMBERGER was born in Cumber- 
land County, Penn.sylvania, March 81, 1855, 
and was brought up and educated there, com- 
ing to Nebraska in 1891. In 1889 he was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary Barber, and they have five 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



233 






W. M. UMBERGER, t. G. REYNOLDS. MILTCX \v:X3I dW. \V . T. NOTT. G. B. CHASE. 




Gosper County Court House 



children. His people were of German descent, 
but they have been in America for many years. 
He is the only shipper of stock at Elwood, Ne- 
braska. Mr. Umbcrger is a member of the 
Populist party and has twice been a member of 
the Board of County Commissioners and is 
now serving as Chairman of that Ixiard. 

T. G. REYNOLDS is a native of Ohio, hav- 
ing been born in Knox County, March 25, 1849, 



and when eleven years of age came with his 
parents to Illinois, where he received his edu- 
cation in the common schools. In 1883 he re- 
moved to Nebraska and has lived in the state 
since that time. He was married to Miss Har- 
riet Bour(]uin in 187G, and they have six chil- 
dren. Mr. Reynolds was County Clerk of 
Gosper County from 1894 to 1898, and is now 
Deputy Clerk. He is a member of the Popu- 
list party. 



234 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 







p. H. BARRT. 



JAMES R. SWAIN. 



C. T. WEEKES. 



JAMES R. HANNA. 




JOHN C. BYRNE. 






JAMES B. BARRT. 




W. P. TOOHEY. 



Greeley County Court House 
Photo by J. W. Harbert, Greeley, Nebraska 



D. D. DONOVAN. 



GREELEY COUNTY. 



In the fall of 1S71 a party of Seventh Day 
Baptists from Wisconsin who wished to live 
apart from First Day worshipers, came to Ne- 
braska looking for a location. The party, on 
its return to Wisconsin, recommended the land 
comprised in Greeley and Valley Counties. A 
few took claims in 1871, but the large colony 
came in 1873. They' distributed themselves 
over the two counties, the greater number 



choosing ^'aIley. In 1877 immigrants began 
to come in great numbers. General O'Neill 
chose a location in the center of the county on 
Spring Creek for a colony of Irishmen. This 
colony became very progressive, and the town 
of O'Connor was laid out in 1877. In October 
of this year the first newspaper was started at 
Scotia, called the "Greeley County Tribune." 
The land is rolling, embracing the fertile val- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



235 



ley land of North Loup and Cedar Riv- 
ers, besides many creeks. The valleys are 
broad and level, with a border of high bluffs 
cut by gulches and canons. Agriculture and 
dairying are the principal occupations, and al- 
falfa is extensively grown. Since its organiza- 
tion, in 1872, the population has grown to 
5,091, and the value of the land has increased 
50 per cent, since 1S97. . The county seat has 
been repeatedly changed, but it is now located 
at Greeley Center, where there are 552 resi- 
dents. Over 500 quarter sections have been 
sold within the two last years. There are 2,466 
children of school age in the county, and dur- 
ing the last two years seven large new school- 
houses have been built for their accommoda- 
tion. Two-thirds of the district schools here 
have school libraries. 

JAMES R. SWAIN was born August 9, 
1863, at Detroit, Michigan, from which place 
he moved to Iowa in 18(18, where he lived until 
he came to Greeley, Nebraska, in 1887. Two 
years before he began practicing law at Gree- 
ley he was married to Jennie M. Hopper of 
Iowa. He obtained his education at the pub- 
lic and high schools of Smithland and later 
at the Iowa University, where he studied law, 
graduating in 1886. He was Mayor of Greeley 
tw^o terms and County Attorney twelve years, 
which office he now holds. He has been a 
member of the Democratic State Central Com- 
mittee for several years. 

D. D. DONOVAN came to Nebraska in 
1880, when he lived with his parents in York 
County until 1893, during which year he 
moved to Brayton, Greeley County. He was 
born in Logan County, Illinois, May 24, 1872. 
He acquired his education at Bradshaw and 
Grand Island High Schools, at the latter of 
which he was graduated in 1888. He also at- 
tended Fremont Normal for one year. He was 
Principal of the Brayton Schools at the time 
of his election to his present office of Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction. He is a Dem- 
ocrat. In 1898 he married Margaret Mulcahy. 

C. T. WEEKES was born at Ottoway, Illi- 
nois, on the 12lh of April, 1857. He came to 
Greeley County in 1875, where he lived on a 
homestead. He is now serving his second term 
as County Treasurer. Previously two of his 
brothers have held the same ofifice. In 1893, 
on the 15th of March, he was luarried to Miss 
Elizal)cth McClung. He is affiliated with the 
Republican party. 



JAMES B. BARRY came to Greeley County 
when a boy of fourteen from his native state, 
Massachusetts. He was born at East Boston, 
August 10, 18G6. His father was Gen. P. H. 
Barry, who served four years in the Civil War 
and was also Adjutant General of Nebraska 
for six years. He studied law in the County 
Judge's office four years, and was admitted to 
the bar in 1901. He was County Judge of 
Greeley County for four years. He holds the 
offices of County Clerk and Clerk of the Dis- 
trict Court at present. October 17, 1900, he 
was married to Miss Mary Taylor of Greeley. 
He is a member of the Populist partv. 

JOHN C. BYRNE was born in 'the year 
1843 in Ireland. In 1873 he came to the United 
States, locating in Coleridge, Pennsylvania. 
Here he worked as a miner until 1884, when 
he came to Greeley County, which has since 
been his home. In 1885 he took a homestead, 
and he still has it in his possession. He is serv- 
ing his second term as County Judge. In 1868 
lie was married to Miss Bridget Durtin of Ire- 
land. Politically he is a Populist and is now a 
retired farmer. 

C. P. SMYTH came to Greeley County from 
Benton County, Iowa, his birthplace, in 1884. 
Born March 30, 18G6, his father died in Iowa 
and his mother now lives near Spalding on a 
farm. He was employed on the Northwestern 
Railroad for five years, and from 1889 to 1894 
was Assistant Master Car Builder, traveling 
over the Iowa lines of the Northwestern. On 
the 30th of June, 1903, occurred his marriage 
to Miss Sarah Maloney. He is serving his sec- 
ond term as County Sheriff and was elected 
on the Fusion ticket. 

W. P. TOOHEY is Deputy Clerk of Greeley 
County. His parents, M. J. and Julia Toohey, 
were living at Tanipico, Illinois, at the time 
of his birth, October 28, 1875. The following 
year they moved to Iowa and came to Colfax 
County, Nebraska, in 1882. He removed to 
Greeley County in 1890, where he has since 
lived. In 1899 he graduated from Fremont 
Normal, and teaching is his vocation. He has 
been Principal of the schools at Hubbard and 
at Belgrade, Nebraska. He is a member of the 
Populist partv. 

GEN. P. H. BARRY was born in County 
Cork, Ireland, August 25, 1844, and came to 
the United States with his parents in 1849. 
His father died in Mr. Barry's boyhood, so he 
was forced to sup])ort the family. He was 
educated at the Elliott Granuiiar School of 



236 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Boston. On the 2d of September, 1861, he en- 
listed in Company E, Sixty-third New York 
Volunteer Infantry, which was a division of 
the Arm)' of the Potomac. On September 17, 
1862, he was wounded in the leg at the battle 
of Antietam, and in February of the next year 
was discliarged for disability. He re-enlisted 
July 17. 1863. in Company A, Twelfth Massa- 
chusetts Volunteer Infantry. He was again 
wounded in front of Petersburg, which necessi- 
tated the amputation of his right arm. In 1880 
he emigrated to Nebraska. He was elected to 
the House of Representatives m 1892. In 
1894 he was again elected to the House of 
Representatives. April 13, 1895, he was ap- 
pointed Adjutant General of the State by Gov- 
ernor Holcomb, serving through the Spanish- 
American War. He was reappointed Adjutant 
General by Governor Poynter and served under 
him until the expiration of his term. On Feb- 
ruary 27. 1901, he was elected by a un,aiiimous 
vote as Brigadier General of the Nebraska Na- 
tional Guard, commanding First Brigade, with 



headquarters at Greeley Center, which position 
he now holds. He was nominated for Con- 
gress by the People's Independent and Demo- 
cratic parties at Kearney, Nebraska, July 9, 
1902. He is now a member of the Populist 
State Central Committee. His wife was Miss 
Mary Monahan of East Boston, Mass., and 
their marriage occurred in July of 1865. They 



liave five sons living. 



JAMES R. HANNA has been a resident of 
Greeley, Nebraska, since he came here as a 
young man. He was born in Vincent, Iowa, 
February 21, 1861. He was graduated from 
Cornell College in 1884, after which he stud- 
ied law with Judge Gilchrist at Vinton, Iowa, 
and was admitted to the bar in 1886. He was 
elected to the Legislature in 1888 and Judge of 
District Court in 1903. He is President of the 
Greeley State Bank, of the Gas Company and 
of the 'Milling Company. In 1887 Mr. Hanna 
received the degree of Master of Philosophy at 
Cornell College. The next year he married 
]\Iiss Lora Chail'in of ]\Iarion, Iowa. 



GRANT COUNTY. 



Grant County was organized in 1888 with 
an area of 720 square miles. Its population 
is 763, of which number Hyannis, the county 
seat, has 200. Whitman has 76 inhabitants. 
Grant Covmty is chiefly valuable for its good 
pasturage and hay, twelve and a half per cent 
only being tillable. Most of the untillable land 
consists of sandhills, which are very high and 
abrupt in places, but afford considerable pas- 
turage. There are no living streams in the 
county. W'ells from twelve to one hundred 
feet deep furnish an abundant supply of water. 
On the many hay flats a large number of live 
stock is raised, the value of which amounted 
to $1,546,309.00 in 1900. Land values have in- 
creased fifty per cent since 1897. There are 
now 750 acres devoted to the raising of alfalfa. 

JOHN McCAWLEY took a homestead in 
Saline County, Nebraska, in 1871 and in Grant 
County in 1893. He owns a ranch near Hyan- 
nis. He is County Judge, and is acting in this 
capacity for the third term. He was born at 
Dayton, Ohio, October 26, 1850, and moved to 
Iowa, where he lived until he was eighteen. 
He lived in Dakota Territory before coming to 
Nebraska. In politics he is Democratic, and 
March 27, 1870, he married Miss Edna A. 



Haggin and they have nine children, four sons 
and five daughters. 

R. M. MORAN was born in Marion County, 
West Virginia, November 28, 1860. He lived 
in Indiana and Minnesota before coming to 
Nebraska in 1884. He lives on his ranch about 
five miles from Hyannis, but has served as 
Sheriff since the organization of the county, 
seventeen years ago. In 1891 he married Ella 
Mclntire of Hyannis. They have one daugh- 
ter, Winifred. He is one of the earliest set- 
tlers of this part of Nebraska. 

W. H. NICKLES is County Treasurer at 
present, having previously served four years 
as County Clerk. His birth occurred Septem- 
ber 13, 1867, at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. 
He moved to Kansas in 1879 and to Colorado 
in 1888, where he lived four years. He came 
to Grant County in 1892, after his marriage to 
Miss Cora Keene in 1891. He attended the 
Lawrence, Kansas, Business College. He is 
cashier in a bank at Hvannis. 

HENRY R. DELLINGER lived thirty- 
four years in Pennsylvania, one year in Illi- 
nois, ten years in Iowa and nine years in Kan- 
sas before coming to Grant County in 1887. 
He has taueht schools in all these states. He 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



237 




C. ABBOTT. 



JOHN McCAWLEY T. L. MARRIN. HENRY R. DEI^LINGER. t^- B. UNKEFER. 







WILLIAM M. ALDEN. 



M E HARMSTON. 



S. SEARS. 



R. M. MORAN. 



was born in York County, Pennsylvania, De- 
cember 13, 1833. His higher schooling was at 
Union Seminary, New Berlin, Pennsylvania. 
Mr. Dellinger is serving his fourth term as 
County Superintendent, and his fifth term as 
Surveyor. He has also been Postmaster at 
Hyannis. He married Sarah Ann Dubs in 
lsr)(). and they have six children. 

L. B. UNKEFER was born at Humboldt, 
Nebraska, on the 14th of November, 1873. He 
is a lawyer and newspaper man at Hyannis 
and is editor of the Grant County Tribune. 
He began practicing law at Hyannis on March 
10, 1900. He was graduated from the Hum- 
boldt High School in 181)3 and from the law 
department of the State University in 1899. 
He has been a member of the City School 
Board and is now serving his third term as 
County Attorney, having been elected on the 
Republican ticket. He was married to Miss 
Mamie Sight, June 18, 1903. 

T. L. MARRIN was born at Harper's Ferry, 
Iowa, November 10, 1867. From Iowa he 
came to Nebraska in 1878, settling in the south- 
ern part of the state, and about 1890 moved to 
Grant County, which has since been his home. 



He was married at Hyannis in 1803 and has 
two sons and one daughter. Mr. Marrin is a 
member of the Democratic party and has 
served as Precinct Assessor, Deputy SheriflF 
of Grant County and Town Marshal of Hy- 
annis. In 1903 he was elected Clerk of Grant 
County. While at Hyannis he has been en- 
gaged in the hotel, livery and meat business. 

M. E. HARMSTON is a druggist, born Sep- 
tember 28, 1861, in Mercer County, Missouri, 
and moved to Iowa at two years of age. When 
twenty-three he moved to South Dakota, near 
Huron, farming and teaching three years. 
After spending one year in the Black Hills, he 
came to Grant County, Nebraska, where he has 
lived since. He has held the position of 
County Superintendent; was Postmaster at 
Hyannis eight years, and has been County 
Clerk. He is now Deputy County Clerk, and 
is a Democrat in politics. In 1897 he was mar- 
ried to Isabel Thurston of Hyannis, and they 
have one boy. 

WILLIAM M. ALDEN is City Treasurer 
of Hyannis. He was born at Union, Illinois, 
in the year 1860 on June 29. His parents 
moved to Tipton, Iowa, when he was five years 



238 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



old, and he came to Aurora, Nebraska, in 1879. 
In 1888 he came to Hyannis, where he was the 
first resident, and his youngest daughter the 
first native of the town. He established a gen- 
eral merchandise store and is still in that busi- 
ness. He is affiliated with the Republicans. 
His wife's maiden name was Nina Chapin, and 
they were married in 1881. 

S. S. SEARS came to Aurora, Nebraska, in 
1881, where he farmed for ten years, and then 
came to Grant Comity. He is a lumber, coal, 
grain and hardware dealer, and is also engaged 
in ranching. He attended school at Sandwich 
High School, Illinois, at Valpariso, Indiana, 
and at the Northern Indiana Normal and Busi- 
ness Institute. He has been a member of the 



County Democratic Central Committee and is 
now Chairman of the Hyannis Town Board. 

C. ABBOTT was born in 1832. He came 
from Ireland to Canada at the age of twenty, 
and a year later came to the United States and 
located near Chicago. After a residence of 
about ten years here he removed to Minne- 
sota. He next lived in Kansas and finally 
came to Nebraska in 1887, where he has since 
resided. In 1854 he married Miss Mary Woods 
at Chicago,, and has two children living. 
\\'hile in Kansas one of his sons was killed by 
the Indians, and he came near losing his own 
life in the same manner. Politically he is an 
Independent. He resides at Hyannis. 



HALL COUNTY. 



Hall County is made up of rolling prairie 
land with long slopes leading to the higher 
parts. The Platte River enters at the south- 
west corner of the county, passing out in the 
northwest. The course of the river is very 
broad here. The water forms two channels, 
between which is a productive island, called 
Grand Island. Both valleys and upland have a 
fertile soil from two to three feet in depth. 
Apples, cherries, plums,- grapes and all small 
fruits do well here. The raising of sugar beets 
and alfalfa are growing industries, and the beet 
sugar factory at Grand Island has a daily ca- 
pacity of 350 tons. During the past few years 
land has increased in value $5 to $10 an acre. 
Hall County was first settled in 1857 by a col- 
ony from Davenport. Iowa, which was com- 
posed mostly of Germans. A. H. Barrows was 
at the head of the colony and he had an ex- 
travagant purpose in regard to the town which 
he intended to found. He firmly believed if a 
town were located about in the geographical 
center of the Lhiited .Slctes th^.t it would be 
onh a question of time until the national cap- 
ital at W'ashington would be moved to that 
place. Impractical as his ideas were, they ob- 
tained credence, and a town company was 
formed. An agreement was entered into by 
which each settler was to have, in addition to 
his individual claim, ten town lots. A town 
was laid out almost on the present site of 
Grand Island. In 1858, another party came 
from Davenport, and in this same year a com- 
pany of Mormons made settlements along 



Wood River. On Jan. 18, 1859, there was a 
terrible prairie fire in which eight of the large 
houses of the Grand Island Settlement were 
burned. This fire was maliciously started by a 
traveler who had quarreled with some of the 
settlers. In 1859 the great overland travel 
commenced. This was a great agent in the 
prosperity of the couiity because the settlers 
found such ready sale for their produce among 
the emigrants. The early settlers spent much 
of their time in hunting wild game. There 
were buffalo, elk, antelope, deer and wild tur- 
keys, besides wolves, foxes, wildcats and badg- 
ers. Wolf skins were sold at 75c to $3 each. 
Hall County is populated with 17,206 people. 
It contains one of the large Nebraska towns, 
Grand Island, which has a population of 7,554. 
The county has 5,955 children of school age. 

J. LUE SUTHERLAND was born Sep- 
tember 23, 1854, in Shelbyville, Indiana, from 
whence his parents moved to Marion County, 
Iowa in 1855, where they resided until Mr. 
Sutherland grew to manhood. He was edu- 
cated in the Central University of Iowa, Ma- 
rion County, and Rush Medical College of 
Chicago, graduating from the latter in 1883. 
Mr. Sutherland has been practicing medicine 
since coming to Nebraska in 1882. He is a 
Republican, serving his first term as County 
Coroner of Hall County, which position his 
father held before his election to the office. In 
1882 he married Miss Emily F. Kleeverger of 
Youngstown, Ohio and has one daughter aged 
fifteen. Mrs. Sutherland died in March of 1903. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



239 




J. L. SCHAUrP. J. H. M[ILLIN. F. E. SI-USSKfi. \V. II. IHOMI'SCN. JOHN R. THO.MI'Sl^N 




C. A. HAI.DWIN. 









^ 


^HHpi^x^^^^^^^B^^K ^H^ ^ 


' ' ' ■ t 






_ _ **• <* * . 




JAMES Cl.EARV. 



Hall County Court House. Photo b\ G. J. Bauma i. 





li. U. IIURTH. DAN. H. FISHBrUN. HENRY ALLAN. J. EUE SUTHERLAND S. N. TAYLOR. 



240 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



.'JAMES CLEARY is a native of Ireland, 
having been born there in 18-10. He came to 
the United States with his parents in 1859 and 
located in Virginia, remaining there until 1805 
when they went to West Virginia for one j'ear 
and then to Kansas one year. From Kansas 
they went to Colorado, then settled at Grand 
Island, Nebraska, in 1870, where Mr. Cleary 
has since resided and conducted a hardware 
business. He received his education in the 
West Virginia Public schools and by attending 
night schools in Denver. In 1874 .Mr. Cleary 
was married to Miss Joana Donna.hy of New 
York and they have four children. He was a 
member of Compan}' A of the Fourteenth Vir- 
ginia Cavalry and served until the end of the 
Civil War and was under General Lee in the 
Virginia campaigns during the latter part of 
the War. Mr. Cleary is Mayor of Grand 
Island. 

T. O. C. HARRISON was born in New Bur- 
lington, Clinton County, Ohio, May 23, 1819, 
where his father, a licensed Methodist Episco- 
pal minister, operated a furniture and cabinet 
shop. He received his education in Ohio, hav- 
ing attended the common schools and the Na- 
tional Normal Schoo". nt Lebanon and studied 
law in his uncle's office at London, Ohio. He 
was admitted to the bar in 1873 and in the 
same year located at Grand Island, where he 
has since been engaged in active practice ex- 
cept while serving on the bench. Mr. Harri- 
son was County Judge of Hall County for 
eight years and seven years Judge of the Elev 
enth Judicial District, which position he re- 
signed upon his election as Judge of the Su- 
preme Court of Nebraska. He is associated 
with the Republican party and served one teri.i 
as State Senator and one term as Judge of the 
Supreme Court. 

JOHN R. THOMPSON was born in Lam- 
ertine, Carroll County, Ohio, August 4, 1850. 
His parents moved to Fayette County, Iowa in' 
1864, where he grew to manhood and by per- 
severance and industry in and out of school 
prepared himself for college and attended the 
Upper Iowa University at Fayette, Iowa. He 
then read law with Judge W. A. Hoyt of the 
McGregor District until 1875, when he entered 
the State University of Iowa, graduating with 
honors, from the Law Department in the class 
of 1877. In 1878 he came to Grand Island, 
Nebraska. Mr. Thompson is affiliated with 
the Independent party and was Judge of the 
Eleventh Judicial District for twelve years, 



during which time he never received an ad- 
verse criticism on his rulings and decisions by 
the press of any party. He was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Pryse of Iowa City in 1880, 
who died eight years later. He was again 
married to ]Miss Sarah A. Jones of Iowa City 
in 1900 and has four daughters and one son. 

W. H. THOMPSON was born December 
14, 1853, in Carroll County, Ohio. In 1864 he 
moved to Fayette County, Iowa. His father 
was a blacksmith. Mr. Thompson was edu- 
cated in common schools, select schools and 
L'pper Iowa University, Fayette, Iowa, and 
graduated from the Law Department of the 
Iowa State U'niversity in 1877. He commenced 
practicing law in the fall of 1877 at what is 
now Arlington, Iowa. In 1881 he located and 
opened an office at Grand Island. He was 
elected Attorney of Hall County in 1886. From 
1896 to 1900 he w^as Mayor of Grand Island. 
In 1890 he was a candidate for congress. In 
politics he is a democrat and was a delegate at 
large to the National Convention in 1892, 1896, 
1900 and 1904. He was the fusion candidate 
for Governor of Nebraska in 1902. On Sep- 
tember 27, 1879 he was married to Miss Nettie 
I. Hutchison and they have two sons and one 
daughter. He is a member of the Board of 
Trustees of Grand Island College and has been 
since its organization. 

HENRY ALLAN w«b born in Scotland, 
February 14, 1858. In 1880 he came to Hall 
county, Nebraska and his trade is that of a 
machinist. His parents were John and Mar- 
garet Allan. From 1888 until 1899 he held 
the position of Deputy Clerk of the District 
Court, and from 1899 to the present time has 
been Clerk of the District CoiTt. He is affil- 
iated with the Republican party. 

S.N. TAYLOR was born at Sullivan, Illi- 
nois in 1861. In 1880 he removed to Cincin- 
nati, where he remained eighteen months. He 
served in Troop S, United States Fourth Cav- 
alry for five years. In 1886 he came to Wood 
River, Nebraska and there engaged in the har- 
ness business. He was City M.irshal of Wood 
River from 1893 to 1897, when he became 
Sheriff of Hall County. He is a member of 
the Republican partv. 

DAN H. FISHBURN was bom in Belle 
Fonte, Pennsylvania, February 18, 1870. He 
removed to Grand Island in 1882 with his par- 
ents, where he has since resided. He received 
his education in the Grand Island public 
schools, having graduated from the High 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



241 



School. His vocation lias been that of a teach- 
er and he is now serving as County Snjierin- 
tendent of Public Instruction, being a member 
of the Populist party. 

F. E. SLl'SSER was born in Monroe, Jas- 
per County, Iowa, July 11, 1868, where he 
lived until 18S(>, when lie came to Wood River, 
Nebraska. He has since made W'ood River 
his home and is engaged in the banking busi- 
ness at that place. He is a member of the Re- 
publican party and was elected Treasurer of 
Hall Count V on that ticket. 

J. L. SCH.\UPP is a native of Iowa, hav- 
ing been born in Jackson county. May v'"2, 18()7 
of (icrman ])arontage. From there he re- 
moved witli his parents to Hall County, where 
he has since made his home. For eight years 
he was ticket clerk for the Burlington Rail- 
road Company and prior to this time worked 
in his father's Roller Mills at Grand Island. 
He is a member of the Republican party and 
is now the Clerk of Hall County. 

J. II. MULLIN is a native of Iowa, having 
been born in Des Moines County in IS-M. 
When thirteen years of age he removed with 
his parents to Iowa City, where he went 
through the High School and Iowa University 
Law School, afterwards practicing law until 
his coming to Nebraska in 1879. In Grand Isl- 
and he entered the business of book-dealer. 
He is a member of the Democratic party and 
is now occupying the office of County ludge 
of Hall county. 

R. R. IIORTH. serving his second term as 
county Attorney of Hall county, was born in 



New Albion, New York, April 16, 1863, from 
whence his parents came to Hall County, Ne- 
braska in 1S72, where his father took a home- 
stead and has since resided. He graduated 
from the Law Department of the University of 
Michigan in 1885 and was admitted to the bar 
the same year. Mr. Horth is associated with 
the Republican ]jarty and was City Attorney 
of Grand Island for three terms. He married 
Miss May Castidav, of Rawlins, Wyoming, in 
1888. 

C. A. B.ALDWIN was born in Green Coun- 
ty, New York, May 5, 1835. In 1861 he re- 
moved to Independence, Iowa, in 1865 to 
lUishnclI, Illinois and to Nebraska in 1885, 
engaging in the occupation of contractor and 
builder. Mr. Baldwin comes of New England 
stock, his mother's people having come to New 
luigland in the second ship that landed at Ply- 
mouth, in March lfi'21, and his father's family 
having settled in Connecticut about 1630. He 
has been County Surveyor of Hall County 
from 1889 to 1895 and also since 1901. He is 
City Engineer for Grand Island as well. 

DAA^ID ACKERMAN was born in Penn- 
sylvania, December 8, 1847, of German par- 
entage. In 1874 he came to Nebraska. He is 
a graduate of the Philadelphia College of 
Pharmacy and is a druggist by profession. He 
is associated with the Republican party and 
has held several offices. Mr. Ackerman has 
been Chairman of the Republican Central 
Committee, County Coroner from 1882 to 1886, 
County Clerk from 1886 to 1894 and is at 
l)resent the .\ssessor of Hall County. 



HAMILTON COUNTY. 



At the time when the old "Pike's Peak" and 
"Mormon" trails were being traveled con- 
stantly, several ranches were established for 
the purpose of trade with the emigrants. The 
first white man in Hamilton County was Da- 
vid Millspaw, who occupied one of these 
ranches in 1861. The overland stage coach be- 
gan running in 1863, and a relay station, called 
Prairie Camp, was put up. The first actual 
settlement was made in Blue Valley near the 
southern boundary by Jarvie ChafTee and 
George Hicks. Air. Chaflfee's dugout had the 
honor of being the first residence in the county. 
The first frame house was built in 1870 by F. 
IT. Clark. A grandson of David Millspaw, the 



earliest resident, was the first child born in 
Hamilton County. The first sclioolhouse was 
built of logs, each settler furnishing one log;' 
Miss Jennie Laurie was the first teacher, and" 
her school was composed of ten pupils. She 
was paid by subscriptions of money or wheat, 
whichever was most convenient. The school 
children of the county now number 5.115. The 
county seat was located at Orville until 1873. 
.\fter hard fighting during five elections Au- 
rora finally became county seat, at which time' 
she contributed a good courthouse at her own 
expense. Her population is 1,921. The pur- 
suits of the people are mostly agricultural. 
The soil looks like dark garden earth, and h'as' 



242 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Hamilton County Court House 
Photo by J. W. Elarton, 



a clay and silt subsoil. The Blue River in the 
south furnishes mill power the entire year, and 
the Platte borders the north. The streams in 
the eastern part are quite thickly timbered. 
Fruits, grains and grasses of all kinds flourish, 
especially in this county. 

C. A. COATS was born in Alleghany 
County, New York, March 11, 184T. He re- 
moved from New York to Pennsylvania, then 
to Illinois and came to Nebraska in 1879, set- 
tling in Aurora in 1902. For a time he was a 
private in Company H of the Eighth Illinois 
Cavalry. He has held several offices, having 
been on the town board, school board and was 
census enumerator in 1890 and 1900. He was 
elected County Judge on the Republican ticket. 
During his residence at Stockham he was Post- 
master for eight years. 

FRED JEFFERS is a native of Illinois, hav- 
ing been born in Pike County, August 24, 1870. 
from whence he removed to Hamilton County 
and engaged in farming and school teaching. 
He received his education in the public schools 
and went to College in York, Nebraska, for a 
short time. He has been elected Clerk of the 
District Court by the People's Independent 
party. 



J. W. MARVEL. 

J. W. MARVEL was born in Vermillion 
County, Illinois, November 29, 1875. At the 
age of three years he removed with his par- 
ents to Southern Kansas and in 1890, when his 
education was completed, he came to Hamil- 
ton County, where he has since remained, 
teaching school and farming. He is a graduate 
of the Lincoln Normal School. He is affiliated 
with the Democratic party and has been 
elected Countv Clerk on that ticket. 

J. H. EDMONDSON is a native of Pennsyl- 
vania, having been born in Blair County, 1858, 
where he lived until he became of age, when 
he came to Nebraska, which state he has since 
made his home. During the years 1900 and 
1901 he was representative in the lower house, 
has been County Judge four years, Mayor of 
Aurora two terms, and County Attorney, 
which position he now holds. He was elected 
on the Populist ticket. 

JOHN A. WOODARD was born in Henry 
County, Illinois, August 5, 1875, son of Dr. D. 
S. Woodard, member of the Illinois Legisla- 
ture. In 1880 he came to Hampton, Nebraska, 
with his parents, and in 1897 settled at Aurora. 
He was educated at the Fremont Normal Col- 
lege and the LTniversity of Nebraska. He has 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



243 



taught school in Hamilton County for six years 
and was Principal of the high school at Aurora 
from 1897 to 1899. He is a member of the 
Democratic party and is Superintendent of 
Hamilton County. 

J. B. CUNNINGHAM is a native of West 
Virginia and the date of his birth is November 
3, 18.56. When he was nine years old he re- 
moved with his parents to ^lunsey, Indiana, 
and came to Nebraska as a teacher in 1880. 
He has held the office of Clerk of the District 
Court of Hamilton County for eight years and 



was elected County Treasurer un the Inde- 
])endent ticket. 

OSCAR BERGGREN was born November 
18, 1855, in Sweden, from which country he 
came to the United States in the spring of 
1880, finst locating in Chicago. In 1883 he re- 
moved to Hamilton County, Nebraska, where 
he is now occupied as a builder and farmer. 
He spent three years in college and several 
years in the study of practical engineering. He 
is now serving his third term as County Sur- 
veyor and is afifiliated with the Republican 
party. 



HARLAN COUNTY. 



Before the white men came to disturb tlu'ii 
peace, Indians and herds of buffalo were the 
only inhabitants of Harlan County. There 
were more buffalo here than in any other 
western locality on account of the tempting 
water and grasses. The Republican River 
flows through the county. This river has 
many tributaries in this locality, two of which 
stretch out over a hundred miles in length. 
These creeks, Sappa and Prairie Dog, both 
supply good water power. Wells are from 10 
to ^(iO feet deep according to elevation. The 
Indians fought desperately before relinquish- 
ing this land to the white men. They were so 
ferocious that no one dared make a settlement. 
In 1869, a whole party of United States sur- 
veyors were kille^ while trying to survey a 
town range near Sappa Creek. An Indian war 
went on for some time with General Carr com- 
manding the white troops. This general was 
assisted by the renowned Buffalo Bill as his 
Chief of Scouts. Finally Gen. Carr succeeded, 
and the Indians of the Republican Valley were 
completely overwhelmed. The first settlers 
were part of a prospecting party consisting of 
forty men from the eastern part of the state. 
The first building in the county was the home 
of J. W. Foster on his claim south of Alma. 
On this farm, Gen. Sidney Johnston's army 
camped while on the way to Utah to subdue 
the Mormons. Mrs. Duncan, who lived with 
her husband in the stockade at Melrose was 
the first white woman in the county. Large 
numbers of Swedes and Danes settled around 
the stockade. The country was so thickly set- 
tled in 1871 that a county organization was 
made with an area of 576 square miles. Pre- 



vious to this time the land had been a part of 
Lincoln County. There are -hUu children of 
school age, and the entire population is 9,370. 

P. P. BEXTLEY was born September 23, 
1847 at Westford, New York. He graduated 
from the Normal College at Albany, New 
York, in 1871 and has spent much of his time 
in school work. He served two years during 
the Civil War and was twice wounded at the 
Battle of the Wilderness. He was School 
Coniniissioner at Otsego, New York, one term 
and Superintendent of Schools at Worcester 
and Milford, New York and also at Bricks- 
burg, New Jersey. He settled at Alma, Ne- 
braska, in 1885 and was Superintendent of the 
high school for eight years. He is a member 
of the Republican party and has twice been 
elected Superintendent of Harlan County. 

A. P. SHELBURN was born in Madison 
County, Iowa, December 25, 18C3. He came 
with his parents to Nebraska in 1878, settling 
on a farm in Harlan County. He received a 
common school education and has been en- 
gaged in farming. He was married to Miss 
Mattie AVhitecar of Dakota County, Ne- 
braska. Mr. Shelburn has been a member of 
the Board of Supervisors of Harlan County 
and is now the Sheriff of that countv. He is 
a member of the Populist party. 

C. M. MILLER was born in Bartholomew 
County, Indiana, March 18, 18(!4. In 1879 he 
removed to Kansas and ten years later came to 
Nebraska. Mr. Miller is an attorney at law. 
and received his education in the Normal 
School at Salina, Kansas, June 18, 1895, he was 
married to Miss Jennie L. Druliner. and they 
have two children. Mr. Miller is affiliated 



24:4 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



9 




A. P. SHELBURN. J. A. BROWN. 



A. C. ELI.IS. P. P. BENTLET. C. M. MILLER. 




W. A. MYERS 



Harlan Couniy Court House. Photo by Bishop 



with the I'opuHst party, and is now tlie County 
Judge of Harlan County. He has also been 
Police Judge and a member of the School 
Board of the Alma public schools. 

F. W. STEVENS, who has been Clerk of 
Harlan County for the last five years, was 
born in \\'est Haven, Vermont. From Ver- 
mont he went to New York, and then came to 
Nebraska. He received a common school ed- 
ucation and has been engaged in the farming 
industry. He is a member of the Republican 
party and has also been town clerk and served 
as assessor for nine years. 

J. A. BRO^\■N was born in Daviess County, 
Missouri, September 4, 1863. In 1869 he came 
to Nebraska with his parents and settled in 
Harlan County in 1875. He received a com- 
mon school education and engaged in farming 



and teaching school. He was a member of 
the County Board during 1891 and 1892 and 
from 1896 to 1904 was Deputy County Treas- 
urer. He is now serving his first term as 
County Treasurer of Harlan County, being a 
member of the Populist party. 

COMER THOMAS is a native of Ohio, 
having been born April 30, ISCT, at Niles. He 
came to Nebraska in 1883 and" settled in Har- 
lan County, where he has since resided. He 
received a common school education and sta- 
led law. Since 1891 he has been in the active 
practice of law at Alma, prior to which he 
taught school for a few years. He was Attor- 
ney of Harlan County from 1893 to 1897, and 
has been re-elected to that office on the Fu- 
sion ticket. 

A. C. ELLIS was born in New York State, 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



245 



March 8, 1872. In 188G he came to Nebraska 
with his parents, who engaged in the mercan- 
tile business at Hastings, Nebraska, after com- 
ing to this state. He received his education 
in tlie common and high schools and is em- 
ployed as a traveling salesman. He was mar- 
ried in 1894 and again married in 1904. He 
is now the Clerk of the District Court of Har- 
lan County, having been elected by the Fu- 
sioiiists. Mr. Ellis had the misfortune to lose 
an arm in a cornsheller in 1899. 

S.VMUEL M. BAKER was born March 10, 
ISG"), in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. His 
parents died when he was quite young, and in 
March, 1883, he left Pennsylvania and came 
to Auburn, Nebraska, where he lived until Au- 
gust 17, 1892, when he came to Alma. He 
studied two years at the State Normal at Peru, 
Nebraska, and three years at the Eclectic Med 



ical Institute, Cincinnati, Ohio, graduating 
roni there in 1892. In politics he is a Demo- 
crat, and has been a member of the Pension 
and Insanity Boards, and in 1903 was elected 
Coroner of Harlan County. He is also tlie 
President of the City Council of Alma. 

W. A. MYERS was born in Freeport, Illi- 
nois, March 19, 1876. From Illinois he came 
to Nebraska and settled in Harlan County. He 
is a graduate of the high school at Alma and 
graduated from the Law Department of the 
University of Nebraska in 1890. In 1900 he 
was elected Mayor of Alma on the Republican 
ticket, being at that time only twenty-four 
years of age. Mr. Myers is Cashier of the 
Bank of Ahna, and was also councilman for 
four years. He still continues to hold the of- 
fice of Mavor. 



HAYES COUNTY. 



This is one of the newer counties, having 
been organized in 1884, but it is fast becoming 
prosperous. Since a little over twenty years 
ago its population has increased from 100 to 
2,708. The soil is a dark sandy loam, most of 
which is capable of cultivation. The surface in 
many places is rough and the higher parts are 
often cut by canons. Frenchmen River and 
Stinking Water, Blackwood and Red Willow 
Creeks water the county. These bottom 
lands are fertile and are covered with good 
hay grass. The wells here vary in depth from 
12 to 350 feet. Stock raising is the principal 
industry, while corn and wheat are the leading 
crops. In recent years land has increased to 
the value of one-half. The county was named 
in honor of Rutherford B. Hayes. There are 
97(i children in this county between the ages 
of five and twenty-one. Recent prosperity has 
made possible better school buildings, longer 
school terms and higher wages for teachers. 
The County seat, Hayes Center, has 250 in- 
habitants. 

C. A. READY, County Attorney of Hayes 
County, is an Ohioan, his birthplace being 
New Philadelphia. He was born April IS, 
18G5. His parents removed to Illinois in 18G9, 
where he went through higli school, and in 
1880 came to Nebraska. In 1893 lie married 
Miss Florence Neveren and has two daugh- 
ters. He was in the legal profession until 



1898, when he entered the newspaper busi- 
ness. Pie has served three terms as Attorney 
of Hayes County. 

R. E. COUNCE was born in Adams County, 
Illinois, December 14, 1865, leaving there when 
he was nine years old to go with his parents 
to Missouri, staying there until 1880, when he 
came to Nebraska. He has been farmmg and 
running a ranch since locating in Hayes 
County. He married Miss Lillie Showalter 
in 1893 and has five sons. He is a member of 
the Populist party and is serving his first 
term as Countv Treasurer. 

CHARLES BAILEY is a native of Illinois, 
having been born in Henry County, January 
II, 1855, but resided there only one year, 
the family moving to Iowa and in 1869 to 
Nebraska, his present home. He is a gradu- 
ate of the Fairbury High .School and has been 
engaged in stock raising. He was Sheriff from 
lS9(i to 1900 and was elected Sheriff when the 
county was organized, but did not qualify. 
In 1886 he married Miss Mary Milton. He is 
now holding the office of County Clerk and 
Recorder of Deeds. 

C. C. HATCH moved to Illinois in 1861 
from his birthplace in Medina County, Ohio. 
.Soon after he removed to Wisconsin, a few 
years later to Iowa and in 1886 came to Hayes 
Center, Nebraska. The time of his birth was 
January 15, 1833. During his residence in 



246 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 







CHARLES BAILEY. 



C. A. READY. 



R. E. COUNCE. 



C. C. HATCH. 



Clinton County, Iowa, he held the offices of a gold Democrat. In 1857 he was married to 

Justice of the Peace and County Supervisor. Harriet Dolph, and they have two sons and 

He was elected County Judge of Hayes in two daughters. 
1899 and re-elected in 1903. Politically he is 



HITCHCOCK COUNTY. 



This county was named in honor of Fhineas 
W. Hitchcock, who was U. S. Senator from 
Nebraska at the time of the county organiza- 
tion in 18T.'>. The county is in tlie southwest- 
ern part of the state, and has a population of 
•1,409. The principal industries are stock raising 
and dairying, yet agriculture is very successful. 
The chief farm products are wheat, corn, kaf- 
fir corn, cane, barley and alfalfa. The surface 
is composed of rolling prairie, table lands and 
the valleys of the Frenchman and Republican 
Rivers, besides many creeks. The bottom 
lands of the Republican River are from two to 
five miles wide, with a deep, fertile soil. 
There are many bluffs which give food and 
shelter to stock, and they are often connected 
with the lowlands by regular terraces. Irriga- 
tion has been successfully operated here. Be- 
fore 18fi9 the Sioux Indians and wild animals 
held possession of the county. In the spring 
of 187"2 cattle were driven in by thousands. In 
this year a few farms were taken up just 
east of the present town of Culbertson. These 
settlements were for the most part along the 
rivers and creeks. In 1873 the terrible fight 
between the Sioux and Pawnees took place 
about eight miles west of Culbertson. In 1874 
the grasshoppers destroyed the crops and the 
settlers were so discouraged because of the 
consequent poverty that nearly all of them 
left the county. Only 19 men were left in 



18T5. After the farmers left, the original stock 
men who had been driven out by the tide of 
immigration returned with their herds, and 
until 1879 were practicallv the only inhabi- 
tants. In 1878 and 1879 the county was reset- 
tled by agriculturists, and the stockmen were 
again forced to retreat. A large colony of 
Russians settled on Frenchman Creek near 
Culbertson. The first newspaper was the 
"Culbertson Globe," which was started by W. 
Z. Taylor, in 1879. There are now 1.186 pu- 
pils in the county, and the school term has 
been increased one month within the last two 
years. Trenton, the capital, has 329 residents. 

JOHN H. BROWN was born in Barra, 
Massachusetts, August 24, 1848, and the next 
year he went with his parents to Illinois and 
seventeen years later to Iowa, where he lived 
until 1870, when he came to Nebraska. He 
settled in Hitchcock County in 1893, after a 
residence of twenty-two years in Saline 
County, where he was interested in the farm- 
ing industry, and in Hitchcock County en- 
tered the pump and windmill business. He 
was one of the Board of County Supervisors 
in Saline County, and is now serving as Sher- 
iff of Hitchcock County, having been elected 
on the Republican ticket for the third term. 

JOHN M. WILLIAMS was born in Cape 
Girardeau. Missouri, November 11. 1840, 
where he spent his earlier years farming. In 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



247 






JOHN H. BROWN. JOHN XI. WILLIAMS. C. W. SHURTLEFF. 



J. P. WERTZ. 



TMORNHILL. 



1878 he came to Nebraska. At that time 
there wa.s no railroad .station nearer than Red 
Cloud. Mr. Williams freighted for several 
years and knew every man, woman and child 
for several counties about. He stayed in the 
country after most people had left on account 
of shortage of crops and Indian scares. His 
father was always on the frontier from New 
England to the Pacific Coast, and Mr. Wil- 
liams has the same pioneer trait. He is mar- 
ried and has six children. He was County 
Judge in 1881, County Treasurer in ISS.i and 
re-elected County Judge in 1901, which office 
he has held since that time. 

J. P. WERTZ, County Treasurer, was horn 
in Louisville, Ohio, February 15, 1858, where 
he was brought up and educated, graduating 
from the Louisville High School. He home- 
steaded in Hitchcock Comity in 1884, coming 
to the district when it was yet unsettled and 
remaining until the present time. In 1889 he 
married Miss Amy Powers and they have six 
children. He was Deputy Count}' Treasurer 
before his election to the chief ofifice. He is 
serving his second term as Countv Treasurer. 

W. H. THORNHILL is a native of Mi.s- 
souri, having been born in Holt Countv. .Au- 
gust 15, 1800, but moved to Iowa with his par- 
ents the next year, and twenty years later 
came to Nebraska, where he now resides. In 

1879 he married Miss Rosella Temi)le and has 



eight children. He is serving his thirtl term 
as County Clerk of Hitchcock County, and 
also fills the position of Clerk of the District 
Court and Register of Deeds. Mr. Thornhill 
is a Democrat. 

JAMES O'CONNELL is a native of Chi- 
cago, having been born there September 25, 
1868, from whence he removed to Nebraska in 
1880. He lived in Richardson County for 
about eight years and then came to Hitchcock 
County, where he has since made his home. 
He is a graduate of the Peru State Normal and 
has taken work at the University of Nebraska. 
In the Philippine camjiaign he was in Com- 
pany B of the First Nebraska. He is serving 
his second term as Countv Superintendent. 

C. W. SHURTLEFF'was born in Genoa, 
Illinois, November 18, 1S57, and lived in that 
state until 1S84. He is a graduate of Elgin 
.-\cademy and studied two years in the Univer- 
sity of Illinois and graduated from the Union 
College of Law, Chicago, in 1884. In the 
same year he came to Nebraska and began 
tlie practice of law. From 1897 to 190] he was 
County Judge of Hitchcock County, and is 
now serving his first term as County Attorney 
for the same county, having been elected on 
the Populist ticket. He was married to Miss 
Erma Johnson, and they have three children. 
He is descendant of the ShurtlefFs who came 
to Plvmouth, Massachusetts in 1().34. 



HOLT COUNTY. 



Holt County is made up of the valleys of 
the Elkhorn and Niobrara Rivers. Unlike 
most Nebraska counties, it possesses many 
lakes, which, with its rivers and creeks, form 



an excellent water su|iply, by which five flour 
mills and grist mills arc ojierated. In the 
northern part there is (juite an amount of 
timber along the creeks. Grapes, raspberries, 



24» 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




CHARLES B. HALL. 






.1. M. MORGAN. 



W. B. COOPER. 



Holt County Court House 

gooseberries and plums grow wild in these 
creek valleys. The soil is mostly black and 
sandy, varying in depth from IJ^^ feet on the 
uplands to 6 feet in many places on the bot- 
toms. The soil is easily worked, and small 
grain, alfalfa and sugar beets are especially 
successful products. There are large exports 
of cattle, sheep and ha}^ from the southern 




ARTHUR F. MULLEN 



part, and in 1900 the county live stock was 
valued at $3,221,299. This county is first in 
the state in its cream supply. Sixty-five per 
cent of the land is capable of cultivation and 
2,000 farms have been sold in the last two 
years. Holt is one of the largest counties, com- 
prising 2,440 square miles. O'Neill was made 
the county capital in 1879, and it now has a 
population of 1,107 people. The early settlers 
suffered a great deal from horse thieves, who 
were called "pony boys." In 1873 there were 
not more than 50 white inhabitants, but with 
the advent of several prospecting parties the 
number was increased sufficiently so that a 
county organization was effected in 1876. In 
the last eighteen years the population has in- 
creased to the number of 12,224. Of the ag- 
ricultural products, corn is given more land 
than any other, the number of acres devoted to 
this particular crop being 78.011, with oats 
next in favor. The county has had a sugar 
beet acreage of 210. 

CHARLES E. HALL was born in Milwau- 
fiee, Wisconsin, September 30, 18.59. He re- 
ceived a common school education and came 
to Nebraska in 1872, liKating at West Point 



In 1877 he went West to the mountains and 
returned to Madison County, Nebraska,, in 
18.S0. Three years later he settled in Holt 
County, his present home. Air. Hall is a ma- 
chinist by trade and was married to Miss 
Roda E. McMahan in 1881. He was elected 
.Sheriff in 1901 and at present holds that of- 
fice, having been elected on the Republican 
ticket. In 1898 he organized a company of 
the Third Nebraska Regiment, of which he 
was First Lieutenant. 

D. J. CRONIN is a native of Fountain 
County, Indiana, having been born July 31, 
18(il. When fifteen years of age he came to 
O'Neill with his parents, who took out a 
homestead and made the town their perma- 
nent home. After finishing his school work 
he began farming, and made a specialty of 
the breeding of short-horn cattle. He is a 
member of the Populist jiarty and has done 
public service as a member of the County 
I'loard and as County Treasurer for two terms. 
In 1888 he married Miss Mary Morrison and 
has eight children. 

J. M. MORGAN is a native of Iowa, having 
been born in Buchanan County. February 15, 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



249 



ISO-l, removing to Brian County, Iowa, in 
1831, and settling in Holt County, Nebraska, 
two years later, where he has since resided. 
He received his education in the Lincoln Nor- 
mal and the Fremont Normal College. In 1902 
he married Miss Elizabeth I'cck and has one 
son. He is a Democrat and has served two 
terms as County Judge. 

E. S. GILMOUR is a native of Maryland, 
having been born in Cecil County, April 14, 
1850. ^\'hen a young man he removed to Del- 
aware, later to Omaha, Nebraska, and in ISSS 
to Holt County, his present home, following 
his trade of harnessmaker. lie married Miss 
Virginia Groves in 1875 and has five chil- 
dren. He is a member of the Republican 
party, and has been twice elected Countv 
Clerk. 

R. E. SLAYMAKER is a native of Minne- 
sota, having been born in Wabasha County, 
March 30, 1859, where he was brought up and 
educated. When twenty years of age he came 
to Nebraska with his father, who took a tree 
claim in 1879, and he himself took a home- 
stead the next year in Greenvallcy precinct, 
his present home. He has been a teacher in 
?Iolt County for eighteen years, was County 
Supervisor in 1895 and 1896, and has been 
elected County Superintendent on the Fusion 
ticket. 

JOHN A. HARMON was born in Kent 
County, Michigan, 1853, and remained there 
until a young man of twenty-one, when he 
came to Holt County, where he settled per- 
manently. He graduated from the Law De- 
partment of the L^niversity of Michigan in 
1S9'2. He was united in marriage to Miss Mar- 
garet McLaughlin in 1901 and has two chil- 
dren. I'nder Cleveland's second Administra- 
tion he was Register of the U. S. Land Office 
at O'Neill and has also served his constitu- 
ents as Mayor of O'Neill and as Clerk of the 
District Court. 

W. B. COOPER is a native of Illinois, his 
birthplace being Kankakee, the date Septem- 
ber 7, ]8.")7. There he was brought up and 
educated in the public schools. March of 1888 
found him in Nebraska, where he has since 
made his home. In 1882 he married Miss Ra- 
chel Doherty and has seven children. He is 
affiliated with the Republican party and has 
been County Supervisor for two terms and is 
now Countv Assessor. 

P. J. O'DONNELL was born in Hazleton, 
Pennsvlvania. August 12, 1877, whence he 



came to Nebraska when but a small child, his 
father taking a pre-emption and later a home- 
stead in Holt County, where he has lived un- 
til the present time. He received his educa- 
tion in the O'Neill public schools and went 
to clerking. He has always been identified 
with the Democratic party and has been ap- 
pointed Deputy Treasurer of Holt County. 

J. J. HARRINGTON is a native of Canada, 
having been born in Lindsay, Ontario, Octo- 
ber 29, 1868, whence he removed to Nebraska 
while still a young man. He was educated 
at Lindsaj', Ontario, and the Omaha Commer- 
cial College, and graduated from the Law 
Course of the University of Michigan in 1891. 
In 1898 he married Miss Minnie Daly, and 
they have one daughter. He is a member of 
the Populist party and has been elected to a 
second term as District Judge. At the time 
of his first election he was only thirty-one 
years of age, probably the youngest Judge on 
the bench in Nebraska. 

M. F. HARRINGTON is a native of Can- 
ada, his birthplace being Lindsay, and the date 
November 7, 1859. He was born on a farm 
and was educated in the Collegiate Institute at 
Lindsay and the Normal College of Ottawa, 
Canada, later studying law in a law office. In 
1881 he came to O'Neill, Nebraska, and was 
admitted to the bar there in 1,SS5, since when 
he has been practicing at O'Neill, where he 
has an extensive practice, extending over 
Northern Nebraska. Mr. Harrington was 
married to Miss Maggie McEmery, of Corn- 
wall, Canada, in 1887 and they have three sons 
and two daughters. He is a member of the 
Populist partv. but has never sought office. 

ARTHUR' F. MULLEN was born near 
Kingston, Ontario, May 31, 1873. He at- 
tended the public schools of Canada for a few 
years, then removed with his parents to Holt 
County, where his father located on some gov- 
ernment land. He attended the public schools 
of Holt Coiuity for several years and then the 
Fremont Normal School, graduating in 1891, 
and graduated from the Nebraska Normal at 
Wayne, Nebraska, in 1892. He taught school 
for three years, was clerk in the County 
Treasurer's office for two years. Deputy Treas- 
urer nearly three vears. resigning the position 
in 1S9S. 'He studied law under M. F. Har- 
rington and in the fall of 1898 entered the 
L'niversity of Michigan, graduating from the 
law department in 1900. Returning to O'Neill 
he entered the practice of law in Uie office of 



250 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Mr. Harrington, in the fall of 1900 was elected 
County Attornej- of Holt County, and was re- 
elected in 1902. He is a member of the People's 



Independent party. Was married in June, 1903, 
to Mary T. Dolan of Clinton, Iowa. 



HOOKER COUNTY. 



Hooker County is chiefly adapted to raising 
cattle, horses and sheep on the range. Hay, 
potatoes and vegetables are the principal crops 
and some grain is raised. The surface consists 
of broken prairie, valleys and sandhills. The 
Middle Loup and Dismal Rivers, with their 
tributaries, furnish good drainage, and there 
is an abundant supply of water. The value of 
land has increased twenty per cent, since 1897 
and at present there is a demand for ranches 
in the county. The value of live stock in 1900 
was $438,462.00. The county was organized 
in 1889, with an area of 720 square miles. 
Mullen, a town of 100 population, is the county 
seat. The population of the county is 433. 

J. H. DODD was born near Quincy, Illi- 
nois, October 5, 1846. He ran away from 
school to join the army, and served almost 
three years in Company B of the Fifteenth 
Illinois Infantry and was twice wounded. He 
railroaded for thirty years, beginning as a 
brakeman on the Wabash Railroad, and when 
he left the work he was general yardmaster 
and assistant trainsmaster of the Rock Island 
at Topeka, Kansas. Mr. Dodd came to Cherry 
County, Nebraska, in 189G and the next year 
settled' in Hooker County. May 1, 1867, he 
was married to Miss Jennie Moore of Adams 
County, Illinois, and they have two children. 
He is a member of the People's Independent 
party, and is serving his third term as Judge 
of Hooker County. 

C. :\I. BARNEBEY was born on March 21, 
1879, in Schuyler County, Missouri, from 
whence his parents moved to Iowa, where they 
lived until 1887, when they came to Hooker 
County, Nebraska. His father took a home- 
stead here in 1887, on which he still lives, be- 
ing one of the very first settlers of this county. 
Mr. Barnebey was married to Miss Florence 
Garrett of Mullen in 1903. He taught a pub- 
lic school at the age of seventeen, but is now 
engaged in ranching. In 1901 he was elected 
County Judge and resigned at the end of three 
months, going on a trip West. In 1902 he was 
elected County Clerk to fill a vacancy and was 
re-elected in 1903 on the People's Independent 
ticket. 



C. W. RECTOR was born in Bowling 
Green, Kentucky, August 30, 1852, and the 
next year his parents moved to Barton County, 
Missouri, and about 1872 they went to Texas. 
In 1874 Mr. Rector started out for himself, 
going to Western Texas, where he had thrill- 
ing adventures with Indians. After spending 
several years on the plains of Texas and Old 
Alexico he went to Montana and then to South 
Dakota. In 189C he settled in Hooker County, 
where he was engaged in the cattle business 
until elected Sheriff in 1900. He is affiliated 
with the Democratic partv and is now serving 
his second term. At Alliance, Nebraska, July 
16, 1902, he was married to Miss Josephine 
Bowers of Hooker Countj'. 

MRS. J. E. CATRON is a native of England 
and the date of her birth is October 25, 1873. 
.She came to the United States in 1882 and 
lived in London, C)ntario. for two years, and 
then came to Lincoln, Nebraska. In 1887 she 
went to Ogalalla, Nebraska, where her father 
homesteaded in what is now Perkins County, 
and in 1894 came to Deuel County, where she 
was married to Edmond E. Catron in 1893. 
They have two children. She attended high 
school at Lincoln, Nebraska, two years and 
also at Grant, Nebraska. Mrs. Catron taught 
school for nine years, and is the Superintend- 
ent of Hooker County, having been elected on 
the People's Independent ticket. 

F. S. ALBRIGHT was born January 8, 1847, 
in Johnson County, Illinois, and raised in 
L'nion County. In 1877 he moved to Silver 
Cliff. Colorado, and then back to Macon, Mis- 
souri, where he remained five years. After liv- 
ing in Illinois for a short time he came to 
Dawes County, Nebraska, and settled in 
Hooker County in 1898. He is a tinsmith by 
trade, but recently has been engaged in black- 
smithing and stock raising. Mr. Albright is 
a member of the Democratic party and has 
been Deputy Sheriff of Jackson and Union 
Counties, Illinois. He is now serving his first 
term as Treasurer of Hooker County. 

S. M. BOYER is a native of Virginia, and 
the date of his birth is June 30, 1876. His 
parents moved to Eastern Nebraska in 1882 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



251 





gM^M 







J. H. BOYCE. C. W. RECTOR. C. M. liARNEBT. S. M. BOYER. 



Knw _';i.i. 




F. M. Cl'DEBEC. MltS J. E. C.VTRON. WILLIAM RECTOR. J. H. DODD. 



H. J. LOWE. 




Hooker Coonty Court House 
and then came to 'Cherry County four years 
later. His fatlicr served in a Virq^iniu regi- 
ment during tlie Civil War. Mr. Boyer came 
to Hooker County in \'M)'i. where he had taken 
a homestead in 1S!),S and now operates a ranch 
stocked with about one thousand head of cat- 
tle. In politics he is independent, and has 
been elected Surveyor of Hooker County. 
EDW. nODD was Imrn in Cincinnati. Iowa, 



August l.S, 1878. He attended high school at 
.^ciota, Iowa, and graduated from the Keokuk 
Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa, April 28, 
niD.i. He came to Mullen, Nebraska, June 17, 
l!i<i.'!, and has been elected Coroner of Hooker 
• dunty on the Reijuhlican ticket. 

j. H. ROYCE was born October 13, 1866, in 
Indiana, and two years later his parents moved 
to Kansas. In 1876 they went to Dakota and 
remained there until 1S!)2, when they moved 
lo Sheridan County, Nebraska. In 1900 Mr. 
Iloyce homesteaded in Hooker County and has 
been engaged in ranching and farming. He 
was married to Miss Jeannette Johnson, a na- 
tive of Norway, and they have four children. 
In politics he is independent, and has been 
elected County Commissioner on that ticket. 
He has also been a member of the School 
Hoard. 

H. J. LOWE is a native Englishman, horn 
March '>. 1861. His parents came to the 
L'nited State^ in 1872 and located at Mar- 
shall, Michigan, and then, after residing in 
Livingstone County, Illinois, Guthrie County, 
Iowa, and Sherman County, Kansas, settled in 



252 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Hooker County, Nebraska, in 1894. Mr. Lowe 
has a general merchandise store at Mullen and 
in connection with it runs a lumber yard. At 
Goodland, Kansas, he was married to Miss 
Mary Kudrua, and they have two sons. He is 
a Republican, and was Treasurer of Hooker 
County for four years and has been postmaster 
of Mullen for eight years, which position he 
now holds. 

F. M. CUDEBEC is a native of New York 
State, having been born in Alleghany County, 
February 29, 1853. In 1871 he cam'e to Buf- 
falo County, Nebraska, with the colony that 
settled at Gibbon. Mr. Cudebec located on 
Wood River and homesteaded there, where 
he lived until 187T. He moved to Hooker 
County in 1889 and for thirteen years was en- 
gaged in the general merchandise business at 
Mullen. He then sold out and went into the 



drug business. He was married to Miss Hen- 
rietta Rej'nolds of Hot Springs, South Da- 
kota, in October, 1899, and they have one son 
and one daughter. He is a member of the Re- 
publican party. 

WILLIAM RECTOR was born in South- 
western Missouri, October 14, 18G5. His par- 
ents moved to Fort Worth, Texas, when Mr. 
Rector was a small boy and there had many 
adventures with the Indians on the plains. 
From there he drove a herd of cattle all the 
way to Wyoming, where he remained until 
1893, when he went to Montana. He settled 
in Hooker County, Nebraska, in 1898, where 
he has been foreman of a large ranch. He was 
married to Miss Alice Speck of Hooker 
County in 1900, and they have two children. 
Mr. Rector is a member of the Democratic 
party and served one term as Sheriff of 
Hooker County. 



HOWARD COUNTY. 



Howard County has a mixed population of 
10,343 persons. Almost every slate of the 
Union is represented and the German, Danish, 
Swedish, Polish, Bohemian and Scotch nation- 
alities are settled here in large numbers. The 
Danes and Swedish have confined themselves, 
to the vicinity of Dannebrog. The Scotch and 
Germans are settled in the west part of the 
county, and some of the Germans are also 
found in the south. The Bohemians and Poles 
are in the central part, and the Americans are 
scattered all over the county. The surface is 
made up of table lands and valleys and is quite 
rough in places. The Loup and other rivers 
furnish good drainage, and these are all large 
and of good powers. The bottom lands yield 
grass or crops equally well. In the southern 
part are some of the famous "sand hills." 
These cone like formations of light white sand 
vary in size from small mounds to large hills. 
They are covered with wild grass which makes 
good pasturage. The county has become rap- 
idly prosperous and lands sell for about twice 
as nuich as they did five years ago. James N. 
Paul, a surveyor, while on a hunting expedi- 
tion through this county, decided to locate a 
town here. Accordingly, through his instru- 
mentality, a party of thirty-one persons came 
and settled in the vicinity of St. Paul in 1871, 
bv whom this town was afterward laid out. 
They experienced nuich trouble in crossing 



Loup River, which was broad and deep, until 
they succeeded in having a bridge built by sub- 
scriptions. In the same year, a company called 
the "Danish Land and Homestead Company" 
which had been organized in Milwaukee, set- 
tled on Oak Creek. The first homestead 
was entered March 11, 1871, by J. E. Cody 
(Ml North Loup. The first store in the county 
was opened in 1871 by E. S. Chadwick at 
St. Paul. The Canadian Colony which was 
organized in Detroit, Mich., with a member- 
ship of 40 Canadians, settled between Turkey 
Creek and the Loup River in 1873. This same 
year, the first school district was organized, 
with Miss Lizzie Cooper as teacher. 

CHARLES E. TAYLOR was born Decem- 
ber 12, 1873 at Ashton, Illinois, from which 
place he came with his parents to Nebraska in 
1879. His father, J. P. Taylor, took a home- 
stead in Sherman County. Mr. Taylor came 
to St. Paul in August of 189.5. He acquired his 
education at the St. Paul High School and at 
the Western Normal of Lincoln Nebraska. His 
occupation is that of an accountant. He held 
the offices of Deputy County Clerk for two 
years and Deputy County Treasurer for four 
years. He was elected County Treasurer on 
the Fusion ticket and is now serving his sec- 
ond term in that office. Out of $3.5,S9,').83 of 
personal taxes for the year 1903 on March l.T, 
191)4, a Ijalancc of onlv $13.0,") was left uncol- 



i 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



253 





FR.\NK J. TAYLOR. FRED GRIFFIN. M.\HLON D. SMITH. J. A. ZIEGLER. D. M. HENDRICKSON. 







GEORGE PYNli. 



CHARLES K. JAYI.OIi. WILLIAM CHARLES ALEXANDER U. A. UEIL. 




Howard County Couit House 



254 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



lected. He is affiliated with the Populist par- 
ty. June 17, 1901, he was married to Miss 
Vera I. Force of St. Paul, Nebraska. They 
have twin daughters. 

FRANK J. TAYLOR came to Sherman 
County, Nebraska in 1879, where he lived be- 
fore coming to Howard county in 18SU. He 
was born at Ashton, 111., February 12, 1SG6. 
He was graduated from the law school of Ann 
Arbor, Michigan, in the class of 1891 and also 
studied law in the office of Darnall and Ken- 
dall at St. Paul. He was admitted to the bar 
in 1890 and served as County Attorney from 
1893 to 1899. At present he is holding this 
same office, having been re-elected in 1903. 
His father served one year in the Civil War 
and was discharged on account of sickness. 
Mr. Taylor was married to Miss Byrdie West 
of St. Paul, June 27, 1895. 

GEORGE PYNE came to Howard County 
with his parents when he was four years old. 
He was born in Chicago, 111., on the sixth of 
April, 1878. He was graduated from St. Paul 
High School in 1896. During the Spanish- 
American war he served in company B, Sec- 
ond Nebraska Regiment. On his return from 
Chickamauga with his regiment he was taken 
sick with typhoid fever at Omaha and was not 
able to continue his service when his regiment 
was again mustered out. He held the office 
of Deputy County Clerk for four years and 
is now serving his first term as Clerk of the 
District court. He is a democrat and was 
elected on the Fusion ticket. 

JOHN WYSOCKI was born at Pelplin, 
Great Dukedom of West Prussia, Poland, Oc- 
tober 27, 1855. His father was a Prussian 
soldier and in 1846 was sentenced to life im- 
prisonment as an active member of the revolu- 
tionary organization which was trying to free 
Poland. He was liberated two years later 
through the rebellion of the citizens of Ber- 
lin who forced the king to pardon all political 
prisoners. The father came to the United 
States in the fall of 1878 and was followed 
soon after by his family. They came from 
New Jersey to Nebraska in 1881 and have lived 
in Howard County ever since. He now holds 
the office of County Clerk and was Clerk of 
District Court from 1899 till 1904. He is a 
democrat. 

MAHLON D. SMITH is a lawyer by pro- 
fession, having been admitted to the bar in 
1872. He attended the Stockwell Collegiate 
Institute of Indiana and studied law in an of- 



fice at Crawfordsville, Indiana. He was born 
in .Montgomery County rf tl.is state June 17, 
1842. He practiced law at Fowler, Indiana, 
before coming to St. Paul, Nebraska in 1888. 
W hile in Indiana, he was Clerk of District 
Court in Benton County for four years. He 
became Judge of Howard County in 1888 and 
has been elected to that office three times since, 
being the present County Judge. In politics 
he is a democrat. In 1876 he married Miss 
Anna Burditt of O.xford, Indiana, who died in 
1893. 

WILLIAM CHARLES ALEXANDER 
has made Howard County his home since he 
was an infant. He was born in Clinton Coun- 
ty, Iowa, on the twenty-first of October, 1870. 
His father was one of the first settlers of How- 
ard County and still lives on the homestead 
near Elba, which he took in June of 1871. 
Mr. Alexander was engaged in the machinery 
business as expert n'.cc'.Muic for the Deering 
Harvester Company for five years. He is the 
present County Sheriff and is affiliated with 
the Populist party. 

J. A. ZIEGLER came from Franklin coun- 
ty, Virginia to South Dakota in 1867, where he 
took a pre-emption. He next took a home- 
stead in Cedar County, Nebraska, in 1870, and 
lived there for fourteen years. He located at 
Howard county in 1886, which has since been 
his home. He was born April 24, 1847 
Teaching is his vocation and he was Principal 
of the Boelus schools for six years and of the 
Dannebrog Schools for four years. While in 
Cedar County he was Representative two 
terms and also County Judge one term. He is 
a Populist. In 1886 he was married to Mary 
McNeal of Cedar County. He was a soldier 
in the Civil War, serving ten months in the 
Fifth Battalion, Virginia State Reserves. 

D. M. HENDRICKSON was born in Brook- 
ville, Indiana, January 18, 1864. His parents 
moved to Illinois in 1868 and farmed there 
until 1886, when they came to Sherman Coun- 
ty, Nebraska. Thirteen years later they moved 
to Howard County, which has since been their 
home. He was graduated from the Bement 
High School of Illinois in 1882 and afterward 
attended the university of Illinois at Cham- 
paign. He is a teacher and surveyor by pro- 
fession. He has taught eighteen years, eleven 
years of which he has acted as principal. He is 
serving his first term as County Surveyor and 
is affiliated with the Democratic partv. He 
was married to Nora Fair, June 6, 1895. 



I 



d 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



366 



A. J. BOLLIXGER is among the earliest 
settlers of the coiiiUy. Born 1838 in Butler 
County, I'ennsylvania. he moved to Warren 
County, Illinois, in 185S. In 18(J2 he enlisted 
in the army, serving in company A 10'.^ Illinois 
Volunteers, luuler Sherman in the campaign 
through Georgia and was on duty for three 
years. He emigrated to Nebraska in 1872, 
where he took a homestead near St. Paul. At 
that time there was but one building in the 
town and no railroad. In 1877 he went into 
the hardware business in St. Paul. Mr. Bol- 
linger is affiliated with the Prohition party. 

FRED GRIFFIN was born January 4, 1880 
in Nodaway County, Missouri, whence he 
came with his parents to Lancaster County, 
Nebraska, in the spring of 1884. After a resi- 
dence there of fifteen years on a farm, he 



moved to Howard county in 1898. He was 
educated at the High School and the Normal 
and Business College at St. Paul, Nebraska. 
He now holds the office of Deputy County 
Clerk, and politically is a Populist. 

D. A. (iElL attended school at Shenandoah, 
Iowa, for one year and at York College during 
two years. His vocation is teaching. His 
birthplace is near Lancaster, Ohio, born Sep- 
tember 14, 1872. His parents moved to Des 
Moines, Iowa, in 1880; to Hayes County in 
1885; to York County in 189."). and finally to 
How^ard County in 1897. Mr. Geil spent three 
years as a cow-boy on the range in Western 
Nebraska. He is now serving his third year 
as Deputy Treasurer and is affiliated with the 
Populist party. November 9. 1898, he married 
Carrie Boliman. 



JEFFERSON COUNTY. 



The people of Jefferson County devote a 
great deal to educational interests. There are 
108 schoolhouses which have been built at an 
expense of $86,365. and the school supplies 
are especially good. There are 5,390 children 
of school age, and at the close of last year 70 
pupils received common school diplomas. The 
surface is undulating, having an average ele- 
vation of 1,200 feet, and is quite hilly along 
the streams. Ninety-three per cent of the land 
is productive and the rest comprises bluffs, 
ravines and stony tracts. Land has doubled 
in value in the last five years, and the best land 
sells for $60 per acre. Over 200 farms have 
been sold since 1900. The largest crop of the 
county is the corn crop, which covers 94,871 
acres, producing 1,729,661 bushels. The county 
live stock in 1900 was valued at $2,093,078, 
and the hog market makes up the principal 
part of this valuation. Fruit, vegetables, cer- 
eals and tame hay are the principal products. 
In 1899 this county was first in the state in the 
producing of sorghum and cane. The sugar 
beet industry is just getting a start. The soil 
in the bottoms is very fertile and the streams 
are bordered with considerable natural timber 
The county is supplied with limestone quar- 
ries, from which good lime is produced, and 
there is plenty of clay for vessel and brick- 
making. Rose Creek has good water power, 
and the first mill and also the first settlers were 
established on this stream. The county has 



119.60 miles of both telegraph and railway con- 
nections. Jefferson County was organized in 
1857. The population is 15,196, and Fairbury, 
the capital, has 3,140 residents. In 1857 the 
settlers were all ranchmen, who sold supplies 
to the Pike's Peak fortune hunters. The first 
actual settlement was made by Daniel Patter- 
son at the point where the Big Sandy empties 
into the Little Blue. D. C. Jenkins and the 
Helvy family, who came in 1858, were impor- 
tant factors in the county history. A settle- 
ment of Germans, headed by Newton Glen, 
was made on Rock Creek in 1860. In 1874 a 
colony of Russo-Germans, from the vicinity 
of the sea of Azov, in Southern Russia, took 
up 27.000 acres. In this year the terrible grass- 
hopper plague came. Trains were actually 
stopped by the heaps of oily bodies. 

O. N. GARNSEY was born in Walworth 
County, Wisconsin, July 1, 1869. He came to 
Hastings. Nebraska, in 1872 and received his 
education in the common schools. Mr. Gam- 
sey is a bookkeeper by profession and was as- 
sistant clerk for three years. He is now serv- 
ing his first term as Clerk of the District 
Court, being elected by the Republican party. 
He married Miss Winona Hanchett in 1898, 
and they have one daughter, aged five years. 
His father was an old soldier. 

C. C. BOYLE, now serving his fifth term 
as Judge of Jefferson Countv. was born in 
Richland County, Ohio, July 20, 1845. He lo- 



256 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Jefferson County Court House 

cated at Fairbiiry, Nebraska, in 1869, where 
he has since made his home. He attended the 
Iowa Lutheran College of Albion, Iowa, and 
taught school before he began to study law. 
His father was a captain in the Mexican war. 
Mr. Boyle was married to Luna C. Mason in 
18G4 and they have four children. He was one 
of the first settlers in this section of the state, 
having come to Fairbury when there was only 
one little building there. 

OLIVE TRUE was born in Richmond, In- 
diana. September 9, 18G4. In 1879 she came 
to Nebraska. Being left in 1897 with four 
children to support, she began teaching in the 
Fairbury schools. She occupied this position 
until elected County Superintendent on the 
Democratic ticket in 1903. She is a graduate 
of the Peru State Normal and has a state 
teacher's certificate for life. 

CYRUS E. CASE is a native of Kansas, 
having been born in Brown County June 1, 
1871. When a young man of twenty years he 
came to Jefferson County, engaging in farm- 
ing. He graduated from the IBeatrice High 
School and worked for the United States Pen- 
sion Office for two years. He is affiliated with 
the Re]nil)lican party and is Sheritif of Jefferson 
County. 

ROBERT A. CLAPP is a native of Minne- 



sota, having been born in St. James, January 
31, 1873. When ten years old he removed 
with his parents to Wisconsin, thence to Clay 
County, Nebraska, Salt Lake, Utah, Fairfield, 
Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska, and came to 
Fairbury in 1897. He received his education 
in the conmion schools of Wisconsin, Fair- 
field College, and the University of Nebraska. 
He is affiliated with the Republican party, has 
been Mayor and City Attorney of Fairbury 
and has been elected to the office of County 
Attornev. 

FRANK A. HOUSTON was born in Wa- 
mego, Kansas, March 31, 1874, of Scotch par- 
entage. In 1897 he came to Fairbury, engag- 
ing in railway business and was clerk for the 
Rock Island System for five years. He re- 
ceived a common school education and is a 
graduate of Musgrave's Business College of 
Manhattan. Kansas. He is associated with 
the Republican party, has been Deputy 
County Clerk of Jefiferson County for three 
years and was elected Count)' Clerk in 1903. 

W. W. WATSON was born in Kalamazoo, 
^Michigan, in December of 1844. He came 
from Michigan to Bellevue, Nebraska, in 1854, 
and settled at Fairbury in 1872, where he now 
resides and fills the position of City Engineer 
of Fairbury and County Surveyor of Jefferson 
County. Mr. Watson is a Democrat and was 
the Clerk of the House of Representatives in 
the last Territorial Legislature of Nebraska. 
He was married in September of 1886 to Miss 
Ida Thorp of New Orleans. Mr. Watson has 
been a railroad contractor and a builder of 
bridges and large buildings; has also been in 
the mercantile business. He is a member of 
the State Historical Society. 

W. PERRY, serving his first term as Coro- 
ner of Jefferson County, was born in Troy, 
Kansas, June 4, 1804. His father, A. Perry, 
was a lawyer. Dr. Perry was educated in the 
LTniversity of Kansas and the Jefferson Medi- 
cal College of Philadelphia. He was married 
to Lula Corrill in 1899 and came to F'airbury, 
Nebraska, in 1894, where he has been practic- 
ing medicine for the past ten years. He is the 
local surgeon for the B. & M. and St. Joseph & 
Grand Island Railroads. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



257 






W. W. WHEATLBT. 



UiKuN K DILL. 



Johnson Countv Court House 




CHITTENDEN. 



JOHNSON COUNTY. 



The first settlers of Johnson County were 
John Higgles and Isaac Irwin of Indiana, who 
took up a half section of land southeast of the 
present site of Tecumseh in 185G. In the sum- 
mer of this year six settlers whose farms were 
adjoining formed the beginnings of Tecum- 
seh. The first comers settled mostly in the 
valleys of the great Nemaha and Yankee 
Creek. The first native of Johnson was James 
rVice, son of Ansford Price. The county was 
organized in 1857, and was named for Gen. R. 
M. Johnson, U. S. A., who figured prominently 
in the Black Hawk War, and the ca])ital, Te- 
cumseh, was named in honor of the famous 
Indian chief. Johnson County comprises 289,- 
fi92 acres, of which 198,718 acres are culti- 
vated. About 95 per cent of the land is cap- 
able of raising crops, while the rest is adapted 
to grazing and fruit growing. Corn, cereals 
and meadow grass are the principal agricul- 
tural products, while vegetables and fruits are 
widely raised. The surface is made up of roll- 
ing plain and valleys, with an average eleva- 
tion of 1.120 feet above sea level. Land has 
increased in value $10 to $20 per acre in the 



last five years. Pasture land sells at $20 an 
acre, while the best farm land brings $75. In 
the last two years over five hundred farms 
have been sold. In the valleys there is a de- 
posit of dark alluvium from five to ten feet 
deep. In 1900 there were 1,704,5.35 bushels of 
corn in the county, and the number of hogs 
exported was 43,3.30. In that year the total 
amount of live stockk was valued at $1,319,252. 
The sugar beet industrv is confined to twenty 
acres. The Nemaha Rivers and many creeks 
form so complete a water system that every 
township is drained by at least one stream. 
.'\ great deal of timlK-r is natural to the val- 
leys. The winter of 1856-7 caused great suf- 
fering because the houses were not well built, 
and the nearest source of supplies was at 
Brownville. forty miles distant. In 1858 the 
land was offered for sale by the government. 
Since the settlers had no claim other than the 
right of possession, they were forced either to 
buy their homes or lose them. Many had to 
relinquish their improved land, and a period 
of "hard times" began. 

After the Civil War the county was largely 



258 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



settled by ex-soldiers from Illinois, Indiana 
and Wisconsin. The first school was taught 
at Tecumseh in 1856 by I. C. Lawrence. The 
school census of 1861 showed 134 children of 
school age, while the present census shows 
4,195. 

BYRON E. DILL was born m Lucas 
County, Ohio, March 5, 1875. His parents 
are H. J. and Susan B. Dill and his father is 
a farmer. He is of German descent. At. the 
ag-e of three he moved to Kansas, and has lived 
in Nebraska since 1882. He obtained his edu- 
cation at Blue Springs High School and Fre- 
mont Normal. He has attended several sum- 
mer sessions at the State University. He 
taught school in Nebraska about ten years, 
both in the common and high schools. He is 
now Superintendent of Public Instruction in 
Johnson County. Before accepting this office 
he was a teacher of science in the Tecumseh 
schools. 

WILLIAM H. CU]\nnNCS is a native of 
the Isle of Man, being born in the early fifties. 
He came to America when a small boy and 
has been a resident of Nebraska about forty 
years. He is engaged in the butchering busi- 
ness at Tecumseh. and before coming to this 
city carried on the same business at Nebraska 
Citv and at Lincoln. He was married while 
at the latter place in 1880. He is filling the 
office of County Sherif? of Johnson for the sec- 
ond term and his politics is Republican. 

JAMES LIVINGSTON is Judge of John- 
son County. He was elected to this office in 
1901 and was re-elected in 1903. His birth- 
place was New Albany, Indiana, from which 
place he came to Johnson County in 1880 and 
lived on a farm for ten years. His father, John 
Livingston, was a railroad blacksmith, and is 
now a farmer. His advanced education has 
been obtained at high school and at I'lliott's 
Business College, Burlineton, Iowa, of which 
he is a graduate. In 1896 he married Ester 
Bell, and he has three children. He was Jus- 
tice of the Peace of Sterlinsr precinct for nine 
years, and is affiliated with the Republican 
party. 

CHARLES J. CANON is a teacher and 
farmer by occupation, and lives at Tecumseh. 
His father, Israel, and his mother, Mary, were 
both from Kentucky. Shelby County, Mis- 
souri, is his birthplace, and the date June 16, 
1873. He came to Nebraska when he was 
three years of age. He has taught school five 
years in Johnson and Otoe Counties, and ob- 



tained his education in the public schools and 
at the Peru State Normal. He was Deputy 
Clerk during four years and is now in his sec- 
ond term as County Clerk. He is a member 
of the Democratic party. Married Nina Moore 
in 1897 and they have a son four years old. 

W. W. WHEATLEY was born on the 20th 
of September, 1856, in Tipton County, In- 
diana, from which place he moved to Illinois 
in 1863 and to Nebraska in 1867. At present 
be is County Treasurer and is serving his sec- 
ond term. In March of 1883 he married Sarah 
F. Crow, and they have two children, a boy 
and girl. He was educated in the public 
schools of this state and in politics is a Repub- 
lican. 

JAY C. MOORE is a lawyer at Tecumseh 
and is at present County Attorney. He was a 
school teacher in this county for four years. 
His schooling has been at the Sterling High 
School, at Lincoln Normal and at the State 
University, where he received LL. B. in 1899. 
He was born at Beatrice. Nebraska, May 25, 
1873. His people came from Ohio and set- 
tled in Gage County. He was married to 
Mary Z. Varner in June of 1901, and they 
have one daughter, Pauline. He is a Repub- 
lican. 

WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL was born De- 
cember 31, 1842, at Rushville, Illinois. He 
went to Pennsylvania in 1867 and came to Ne- 
braska in 1870. In this same year he was 
married to Jennie M. Lillibridge and thev have 
two children. He obtained his schooling in 
the Rushville High School. He was County 
Clerk for ten years and Postmaster for four 
years. He is now Clerk of the District Court 
and was elected on the Republican ticket. He 
resides at Tecumseh. 

JOHN WARD was born in Ireland Decem- 
ber 7, 1872. Tlis parents, Neil and Margaret 
\Vard, died soon after landing in .\merica. Mr. 
Ward worked his own way through school and 
taught for five years in Johnson County. 
When he was eight years old he came to Mis- 
souri, and in 1882 to Nebraska. His schooling 
was obtained in the Nebraska Public School 
and in the Lincoln Normal. He is a teacher 
by profession, but is now Deputy Treasurer of 
the county of Johnson. He belongs to the Re- 
publican party. He was Clerk of the District 
Court for four years. In 1898 he was married 
to Evelyn Sutherland. They have three chil- 
dren. 

L. S. CHITTENDEN is a grrain dealer at 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



259 



Tecumseh, Nebraska. His parents, T. J. and 
Mary Chittenden, came from Vermont. He 
was born January 25, IS.tT), at Granville, Ohio. 
From Ohio he moved to \\'isconsin. where he 
was educated in the public schools. In 1880 



he was married to Blanche L. Dodson at Ber- 
lin, Wisconsin, and in 18S9 they came to Ne- 
braska. They have throe children. He has 
been Mayor of Tecumseh for two years past 
and is a Republican. 



KEARNEY COUNTY. 



The early history of Kearne> County is cen- 
tered around Fort Kearney, which was estab- 
lished in 1848. U. S. soldiers were stationed 
here to protect overland travel to Oregon. 
The fort received its name in honor of Phil 
Kearney, who was a famous commander in 
the war against the Indians. The land which 
the fort occupied belonged to the Pawnees, but 
the Government compensated the red men 
with a grant of the land now included in Nance 
County, together with the annual payment of 
a fixed sum of money. When the Civil War 
broke out general sympathy at the fort was 
with the secessionists. Unjust treatment at 
the hands of the white men had provoked the 
Indians to fight, and a long war was being 
waged against the combined forces of Sioux 
and Cheyennes. When it was rumored at the 
fort that the soldiers were to be sent south to 
fight for the Union the dissatisfaction was so 
great that they purposely aggravated peace- 
fully inclined Indians into fighting with them 
in order that they might be retained at the 
fort. Many regiments were sent to Fort 
Kearney, but it was never attacked. At the 
close of the war General Sherman visited the 
post to see about making improvements, but 
as he rode along its inhospitable streets he 
was hissed by the rebel soldiers. .Soon after 
he ordered the post to be abandoned. The 
population increased to such an extent after 
the arrival of the railway that the county was 
organized in 1872. The present number of 
inhabitants is f),8fi6. The surface is a high 
rolling prairie, and the sandhillf jordering on 
the Platte are the only waste lands. Land ha'' 
doubled in value since 1897. The acreage of 
winter wheat is greater than that of any other 
crop, although the yield of com excelled that 
of wheat by 14.282 bushels in the year 1900. 
Stock raising, farming and dairying are the 
leading occupations. The live stock in 1900 
was valued at $l..'?28,9.'i8. Kearney Cotmty 
has very good educational advantages. There 
are 69 school districts. 23 of which have a 



term of 9 months or more, and no school has 
less than a six months' term. There are four 
graded schools, which, together, have a teach- 
ing force of 21. There are 70 .school buildings 
for the accommodation of ;5,.").'i8 children. The 
total school property is valued at .$84,987.25. 
Minden is the county seat. 

S. E. GOODIN, Clerk of the District Court 
Kearney County, was born in Princeton, Mis- 
souri, November 8, 1870, where he lived until 
1877, when he removed to Mills County, Iowa. 
The next year he came to Plattsmoiith, Ne- 
braska, and in 1879 came to Franklin County, 
where he attended the high school. He home- 
steaded in Frontier County in 1881. After 
leaving school he went into the newspaper 
business, and was one of the editors of the 
Wilcox Herald from 189.^; to 1900, when he 
was appointed Deputy County Clerk. In 1902 
he was appointed Deputy Clerk of the Dis- 
trict Court and in 1903 was elected Clerk of 
the District Court on the Democratic ticket. 

LEWIS C. PAULSON is a native of Ne- 
braska, having been born in Minden, Febru- 
ary 26, 1878, where he has always lived. He 
graduated from the Minden High School in 
1898 and then studied in the University of Ne- 
braska for three years, taking the law course 
the last two years. When in the law school 
he was a debater on one of the interstate de- 
bates. He is the son of an old settler of Ne- 
braska, who emigrated from Denmark in 1873 
and settled in Nebraska in 1876. Mr. Paulson 
is a member of the Populist party and is serv- 
ing as Attorney of Kearnev Countv. 

JOHN R. BAKER is' a West Virginian, 
having been born in ]8(!7 in Braxton County. 
He came to Nebraska in 188.'). was educated in 
the high school at Keyser, West Virginia, and 
the Fremont, Lincoln and Wayne Normal 
.Schools, graduating from the teacher's course 
at Fremont and the scientific course at Wayne, 
receiving the degree of B. S. He holds a' life 
certificate and was Principal of the Axtell 
schools for two years and at Wilcox for two 



260 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 











LEWIS C. PAULSON. J. R. McKIRAHAN. CHARLES SWANSONJOHN A. SLATER. JOHN R. BAICER. 




GEO. L. JORDAN 




S. E. GOODIN. 



Kearney County Court House. Photo by Pattison 







H. P. BECK. 



V. L. GAKXBR. 



ROLLIN ORCUTT. GEORGE N. YOUNGSON 



i 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



261 



years, where he resigned to accept the position 
of County Superintendent of Kearney County. 
He was married in 189G to Marie E. Hall of 
South Dakota, and they have two children. 
He is connected with the Populist party and 
is serving his third term as County Superin- 
tendent. 

CH.ARLES SWANSON was born in 
Kobe, Japan, June 18, 1872, his father having 
been engaged in business at Kobe at that time. 
In 1875 he went to Sweden and two years later 
came to the United States, settling at Mon- 
mouth, Illinois. He came to Nebraska in 188U. 
His education was acquired in the Luther 
-Academy at Wahoo, Nebraska, and .Vugustana 
College and Seminary, at Rock Island, Illinois 
He taught school for seven years and then en- 
gaged in farming. He was married to Miss 
Mathilda Olson of Monmouth, Illinois, in 1900 
Mr. Swanson has been twice elected County 
Clerk on the Republican ticket. 

ROLLIN ORCUTT, the Republican 
County Treasurer of Kearney County, was 
born in Alichigan, November 14, 185G. His 
father was an old settler of Michigan and 
went to California in 1849, where he remained 
five years, and then returned to Michigan. 
Rollin Orcutt came to Nebraska in 1878 and 
has been engaged in farming and stock raising. 
He received his education in the common 
schools of Michigan and also attended high 
school. He was married to Miss Emma Bent 
of Kearney County in 1882 and they have four 
children. 

A. A. WYATT was born in McDonough, 
Illinois, October 13, 1844, where he received 
his education in the district schools. Both 
Mr. Wyatt and his father are veterans of the 
Civil War and his father's house was one of 
the stations of the "Underground Railroad." 
Mr. Wyatt was a member of the Sixteenth lUi 
nois Infantry, and served over four years. He 
settled in Nebraska in 1880, having taken a 
homestead in Kearney County. He is a mem- 
ber of the Republican party, has been Sheriff 
of Phelps County, which position he is now 
filling in Kearney County. 

GEORGE L. JORDAN is a native of Illi- 
nois, having been born August ^'i, 1867, in 
Schuyler County, where he remained until his 
twelfth year, when he came to Nebraska. He 
attended the high school at Bioomington, Ne- 
braska, and the Normal School at Franklin 
Academy. He taught in the common schools 
for ten years. Mr. Jordon is a member of the 



Populist party and has been elected County 
Judge. 

JUHN A. SLATER was born January 24, 
185G, in Whiteside County, Illinois, from 
whence he removed to Kearney County, Ne- 
braska, in 1SS3. After completing high school 
he attended Knox College for one year and 
then taught school eight years in Illinois. 
Since coming to Nebraska he has been en- 
gaged in tlie real estate business. Mr. Slater 
was a trustee of the Nebraska Wesleyan Uni- 
versity for eight years and at present is the 
Vice President of the Board. lie is a member 
of the Republican party and has been surveyor 
of Kearney County for ten years. 

J. R. McKlRAH.VN, who has been ap- 
pointed health officer of Kearney County and 
IS also the County Coroner; is the descendant 
of a family of refugees who lied to .\merica 
in the days of the Scotch Reformation and set- 
tled in Pennsylvania. Mr. McKirahan was 
born at I'ittsburg, May, 1S78, where he re- 
ceived his preparatory education. He studied 
in Alonmouth College, Illinois, for three years 
and then attended Rush Medical College of the 
Chicago University. He located in Minden, 
Nebraska, in 1902, where he has since prac- 
ticed his profession of medicine. He was mar- 
ried in 1901 to Miss Mildred Seebers of Iowa. 
He is a member of the Republican party. 

H. P. BECK is a native of Denmark, and 
the date of his birth is May 10, 1863. There 
he received his education in the higher schools. 
He came to America in 1882 and located in 
Hamilton County, Nebraska. Later he re- 
moved to Kearney County, where he has en- 
gaged in farming and stock raising. In 1894 
he was married to Miss Mary Jepson, and 
they have four children. He is a Populist and 
is now serving his second term as Chairman of 
the Board of County Commissioners. 

V. L. GARNER was born February 10, 
1875, in Leroy, Illinois. He came to Kearney 
County, Nebraska, in 1889. He studied at Or- 
leans College, Harlan County, and took a 
course at the Omaha Business and Commer- 
cial College. He was married to Miss Mabel 
J. Crawford of Axtell, Nebraska, in 1889, and 
they have one son. His ancestors came to 
the United States in the early days of the 
country, and several of the family, including 
his father, were ministers. Mr. Garner taught 
school for two years previous to his appoint- 
ment as Deputy County Clerk of Kearney 
County. 



262 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



GEORGE N. YOUNGSON is a native of 
Valparaiso, Indiana, the date of his birth be- 
ing October 27, 1864. His parents came to 
Nebraska when he was twelve years of age, 
and he has resided in Kearney County since 
that time. He has been engaged in farming, 
mercantile business and banking. In 1890 he 
married Miss Cora Hill, and they have three 
children. He is a Republican and has been 
elected Mayor of jMinden three times. 

ED. L. ADAMS, District Judge, was born in 
Monroe County, Indiana, May 24, 1861 where 



he grew to manhood. He came to Nebraska in 
1885, and has since lived in Kearney County, 
where he has engaged in farming and school 
teaching. He gained his education in the 
country schools of Indiana and a preparatory 
school at Bloomington. In 1882 he was mar- 
ried to Miss Alta Strain of Indiana, and they 
have two sons and two daughters. Mr. Adams 
is a great-grandson of Captain Samuel Adams 
of Virginia. From 1888 to 1892 he was County 
Judge and from 1892 to 1897 Attorney of Kear- 
ney County. He is united with the Fusion 
forces, and has been District Judge since 1900. 



KEITH COUNTY. 



Keith County is situated in Western Ne- 
braska, with a population of 1,951. This large 
county, which includes 1,134 square miles, was 
organized in 1873. The North and South 
Platte Rivers flow across the county, and 
where they leave the eastern boundary they 
are separated by a distance of only four miles. 
The valleys of these rivers are broad, level 
and very fertile. Seventy-five per cent of the 
land is capable of cultivation, and the county 
contains 303 farms. The mean elevation is 
over 3,300 feet, and this altitude causes such 
a dry climate that irrigation is necessary to 
successful farming. Ninety-seven miles of ir- 
rigating ditches supply water for 12,646 acres, 
at an expense of $9.67 per acre. The largest 
crop on irrigated lands is that of hay and for- 
age. Corn covers 6,971 acres of land. Every 
season alfalfa is spread over a larger territory. 
The growing of sugar beets covers a small 
acreage. The value of land has come up 20 
per cent since 1897. The uplands are rolling 
and often contain lagoons of water for stock, 
the raising of which is the principal occupa- 
tion. In 1900 the value of live stock was 
$1,195,742, cattle being the largest export. 
Wells vary from 7 to 350 feet in depth, accord- 
ing to elevation. The school property of Keith 
County amounts to $26,817.50, and the expen- 
ditures for the year 1901-2 were $18,229.11. The 
county contains 688 school children. Ogallala, 
the capital, has a population of 355. 

J. H. McGINLEY was born October 27, 
1857, in Missouri, from whence his parents 
moved to Otoe County, Nebraska. In the 
spring of 1881 he went to New Mexico and 
the next year returned to North Platte, Ne- 



braska, thence to Keith County in 1884. Mr. 
AlcGinley was married to Miss Kate Mallog 
of Wisconisn in 1881. He is a Democrat and 
was at one time Deputy County Treasurer of 
Otoe County and at present is Treasurer of 
Keith County. 

HENRY A. DANO, a school teacher by vo- 
cation, and at present County Judge of Keith 
County, was born October 30, 1874, in Os- 
wego, Illinois. He came to Ogallala, Ne- 
braska, in 1890 and has since resided here with 
the exception of two years while attending 
Ozark College, in Missouri. He is now pre- 
paring for the legal profession. Mr. Dano has 
been Chancellor Commander of the Knights 
of Pythias and V. C. in the M. W. A. for two 
years. He was appointed to fill a vacancy in 
the County Judge's office and then elected to 
the office by the Fusionists. 

DENNIS W. HARRINGTON was born 
September 16, 1856, in Rochester, New York, 
where his father was engaged in canal work 
and running boats on the Genesee Valley and 
Erie Canal. He received his education in New 
York at Rochester, Macedon and Black Creek. 
In 1880 he married Miss Elizabeth J. Decker 
of Towanda, Peimsylvania. Mr. Harrington 
came to Ogallala in 1885 and with the excep- 
tion of three years at Cripple Creek, Colorado, 
he has since resided at Ogallala. He is en- 
gaged in the implement and harness business 
and is serving his second term as sheriff of 
Keith County. 

T. H. WHYMAN was born March 17, 1868, 
in Erie County, Pennsylvania, from whence 
his parents came to Adams, Gage County, Ne- 
braska, in February, 1869. He graduated from 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



263 




W. H. HAMILTON. .1. W. WELPTON. WKSI.EY TRESSLEK. T. H. WHYMAN. UALl'lI 1.. ABRAHAM 




J. H. McGINLEY. 



11. L. GOOLD. 



Keith County Court House 




H. E. OOODALL. ORIN REED. DENNIS W. HARRINGTON. HENKY A. DANO. MAIXJOLM MACLEAN. 



264 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



the Adams High School in 1886 and four years 
later he married Miss Keturah Moore of Gage 
County, and they have a son, aged eight. Mr. 
Whyman has taught school in Gage and Keith 
Counties and is now serving his first term as 
Superintendent of Keith County. He has an 
interest in the implement store of Hull & Why- 
man of Ogallala. 

ORIN REED was born April 21, 1853, in 
Morgan County, Illinois; was educated in the 
common schools and Lincoln University, at 
Lincoln, Illinois. In 1881 he removed to South 
Dakota and six years later went to Richard- 
son County, Nebraska. He settled in Keith 
County in 1891, where he has since resided 
and engaged in agricultural pursuits. Mr. 
Reed is a Populist and is serving his second 
term as County Clerk. In 1879 he married 
Miss Lizzie Copper of Logan County, Illinois, 
and they have five children. 

W. J. TAYLOR, Surveyor of Keith County 
and a merchant at Brule, was born in Penn- 
sylvania, January 1, 1862, and came to Ne 
braska in 1886. He returned to Penn- 
sylvania in 1892 and came back to Nebraska in 
1897. Mr. Taylor attended the State Normal 
at Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, and has taught 
off and on for eighteen years in Nebraska and 
Pennsylvania. He is a Democrat and was 
once Postmaster at Brule. He was married to 
Miss Emma Walker of Huntington County, 
Pennsylvania, in 1885. 

WESLEY TRESSLER, ex-County Super- 
intendent of Keith County, was born May 12, 
1866, in Crawford County, Ohio, where he re- 
mained until 1889, when he came to Richard- 
son County, Nebraska. He settled in Keith 
County, Nebraska, in 1891, and has resided 
here since with the exception of one and a half 
years spent at Grand Island. Mr. Tressler 
completed his education at Northwestern Ohio 
University of Ada, Ohio, and has served two 
terms as County Superintendent of Keith 
County. He married Miss Maggie Lute of 
Paxton, Nebraska, in June 1899. 

W. H. HAMILTON, engaged in the real es- 
tate and insurance business and serving his 
second term as Postmaster of Ogallala, was 
born in Wyoming, Iowa, October 8, 1857, 
where he was educated and engaged in the 
retail grocery business five years. He moved 
to Wayne County, Nebraska, in 1883 and came 
to Keith County in 1884, where he has since 
resided and dealt extensively in Keith and Per- 
kins County land. Mrs. Hamilton was princi- 



pal of the schools in Ogallala for three years 
prior to her marriage. 

ANNA GRAY CLARK, editor of the Keith 
County News, the oldest paper published in 
the county, was born at Oxford, Ohio. 
About the time of the war her parents moved 
to Jefferson County, Iowa. She attended 
Howe's Academy and the Wesleyan Univer- 
sity of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and at eighteen 
was tendered the nomination for County Su- 
perintendent of Jefferson County, Iowa, but 
her father would not permit her to accept it. 
In 1882 she was elected Principal of the 
Stromsburg, Nebraska, schools and then 
served as Superintendent of Polk County four 
years. She then removed to Keith County, 
where she took a homestead, and now owns 
1,800 acres of fine ranch land, 200 acres of 
which is under irrigation. She is fond of lit- 
erary work and teaching and b.as the material 
collected for a book, "Folklore of the West," 
and also a book of poems, which she intends to 
publish. 

MALCOLM MacLEAN was born April 25, 
1859, in Scotland, where his father was en- 
gaged in farming, and Mr. MacLean received 
a part of his education, completing it in Ne- 
braska. He located at Lexington, then Plum 
Creek, Nebraska, in 1874, and in 1885 settled 
at Ogallala, where he has been engaged in 
banking and stock raising. He was Deputy 
Sheriff' of Keith County for four years and is 
a member of the town and school boards and 
Cashier of the First State Bank of Ogallala 
He was married to Miss Mary Forsyth of 
Ogallala in 1886. 

J. W. WELPTON, born in Lee County, 
Iowa, October 29, 1858, moved to Red Oak 
Iowa, in 1872, where he completed his educa- 
tion and went to Emerson, Iowa, in 1878. Was 
married to Miss Hester Corp in 1879 and 
moved to Osceola, Nebraska, where he en- 
gaged in the grocerv business for eleven years 
and then returned to Emerson, Iowa. Came 
to Grant, Nebraska, in 1892 and engaged in 
the real estate and banking business until 1897, 
when he located at Ogallala. Is a banker and 
stockman and has over seven thousand acres 
of land. Mr. Welpton is a Republican, was 
Chairman of the County Central Committee 
six years and a memlier of the School Board 
six years. 

H. L. GOOLD came to Nebraska in 188G, 
where he has since lived. His birthplace is 
Knox County, Illinois, and the date December 



4 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



2€!6 



a6, 1850. The public schools and the North- 
western University, at Evanston, Illinois, con- 
tributed to his education. He is a dealer in 
live stock at Ogallala, of which city he acted 
as Mayor at one time. For six years he was 
Regent of the Nebraska State University. He 
has served on the State and County Repub- 
lican Central Committees. Miss Florence 
Hurd, whom he married in 1S75, died in 1881. 
Later he was married to Miss Matilda F. 
W entvvorth of Kewanee, Illinois. 

H. K. GUUDALL is a native of London, 
England, where he was born September 1, 
1849. He was educated in a private school at 
Leeds. On coming to the United States he lo- 
cated at Harvard, Clay County, Nebraska, 
in the year 1872, and lived there for fifteen 
years. He then moved to Grant, Perkins 
County, and finally to Ogallala in 1898. He 
was admitted to the bar in 1889 and is still a 
practicing lawyer. From 1885 to 1887 he was 
Deputy Clerk of Court in Clay County, and 
has held the office of County Attorney in both 
Keith and Perkins Counties. He is associated 
with the Republican party. In June of 1885 
he married Cary A. Boyd of Eddyville, Iowa. 

RALPH L. ABRAHAM came in 1887 to 
Keith County, Nebraska, which has since been 
his home. He was born in Washington 
County, Iowa, on the 1st of April, 1884. He 



is the son of Vestal S. Abraham, who is a 
ranchman. He obtained his higher education 
at Franklin Academy, Franklin, Nebraska. Mr. 
Abraham is now Deputy County Treasurer 
and is affiliated with the People's party. 

A. M. FORSYTH E was educated at the 
Ogallala High School and at the Denver Busi- 
ness College. His birthplace is Oakland, 
Pennsylvania, and he was born April 22, 187;i. 
In 1884 he moved to Galva, Illinois, and the 
next year to Nebraska, where he located at his 
present home. In 1892 he homesteaded here, 
lie served as Deputy Sheriff during one term 
and is affiliated with the Republican part}'. 
In 1895 he married Miss Christine MacLean 
of Lexington, Nebraska. Mrs. Forsythe died 
in 1902. 

V. S. ABRAHAM was born December 23, 
ISGO, in Washington County, Iowa, where he 
lived on a farm until he came to Nebraska in 
1887. He is a ranchman by occupation, and 
the ranch on which he lives has a feeding ca- 
pacity for about 500 head of cattle. For four 
years he was County Treasurer and he has 
also been Chairman of the County Central 
Committee of the People's party. He is an 
independent in political matters. In 1883 he 
married Miss Rose lams of Iowa. He has 
eight sons. 



KEYA PAHA COUNTY. 



Keya Paha is one of the youngest Nebraska 
counties, having been organized in 1884. Al- 
though it is handicapped by the lack of a rail- 
way, it has a population of 3,07G. Springview, 
the county seat, has 188 residents. There are 
1,0(52 school children and 44 teachers, to whom 
about $G,913 is paid annually in wages. The 
total value of school property in 1901 was $12,- 
122.50. There are 5G school districts, 28 of 
which have terms lasting from six to nine 
months. The county has one graded school, 
for which two teachers are employed. There 
are 4G schoolhouses in the county, half of 
which are of log. The surface consists of roll- 
ing highland and fertile valleys. The water 
supply consists of Keya Paha and Niobrara 
Rivers and Sand .Shadley, Last Cottonwood, 
Holt, Burton and Spring Creeks. The leading 
industries are farming and stock raising. The 
principal crops are corn, small grain, potatoes, 



vegetables and hay. Alfalfa growing has been 
successfully tried. Land is two-fifths more 
valuable than in 1897, and in the last two years 
the sales of farms have exceeded 100. Twenty- 
nine thousand and seventy acres of land are 
devoted to corn. There are 599 farms and in 
1899 the farmers paid out $8,470 for help. The 
county live stock in 1900 was valued at $890,- 
80G. 

H. M. DUVAL, a native of Atlantic, Iowa, 
was born May IS, 1880. He graduated from 
the Atlantic High School, attended the Uni- 
versity of Iowa for a time and then went to 
Alontana, where he was in a lumber camp as 
commissary. In 1902 he graduated from the 
Law School of the University of Nebraska and 
homesteaded in Keya Paha County in 1903. 
After a residence there of less than four months 
he was elected County Attorney. 

ROSS AMSPOKER was born in Iowa No- 



266 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




^li 




H. M. DUVAL. RALPH T.BWI3. C. A. RIPLEY. L, A. WILSON. ROSS AMSPOKER 




SAMUEL AMSPOKER. 





JESSIE RIPLEY. 



Keya Paha County Court House 







JOHN SCHEIE. THEO. L. ROGERS THOMAS. R. EVANS. H. COTTRILi. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



267 



vember IS, IST-i, and ten years later his par- 
ents removed to Keya Paha County, Nebraska, 
and took a homestead and have lived there 
ever since. At the time of their arrival the 
county was still unorganized, being a part of 
Brown County. He graduated from the Uni- 
versity of Nebraska Law School in 1903 and 
has been Deputy Treasurer of Keya Paha 
County. He served in this capacity two 
terms and was then elccteil Treasurer on tlie 
Republican ticket. 

THEO. L. ROGERS is a native of Wiscon- 
sin, having been born in Eldorado January ''^y, 
ISol. He went to Minnesota in 1886 and after 
a ten years' residence there came to Nebraska 
and homesteaded in Keya Paha County in 
1897. After his graduation from the Milton 
Normal School of Wisconsin, he began teach- 
ing, which profession he followed until he was 
elected County Judge. He is a member of the 
Republican party. 

JOHN SCHEIE, County Superintendent of 
Keya Paha Count}^ was born in Union County. 
South Dakota, December 22, 1868. His par- 
ents removed to Iowa the ne.xt year and in 1S80 
came to Nebraska, where they took a home 
stead on the Keya Paha River. There were n > 
schools in that part of Nebraska in those days, 
and when Mr. Scheie was twenty-seven he 
started out with the determination to secun- 
an education. In 1900 he finished at the 
Grand Island Business and Normal College and 
graduated from the Fremont Normal College 
in 1901. While in Boyd County he served as 
Deputy County Clerk, was elected Superin- 
tendent of Keya Paha County on the Repub- 
lican ticket and re-elected without an oppos- 
ing canrlidatc. 

C. A. RIPLEY is a native of Iowa, having 
l)een born in Jefferson County February 20, 
1858. He received his education in the public 
schools and the Wilton Seminary. In 1S82 
lie married Miss Hester Cutshall and they 
have eight children. Two years after his mar- 
riage lie came to Nebraska, taking a home- 
stead in Keya Paha County and living on it 
seven years, when he removed to Springview, 
his present home. He is a member of the Re- 
publican party and has served as Postmaster 
for three terms, having been appointed under 
Harrison. He is the present County Clerk 
also. 

H. COTTRILL was born in Athens County, 
Ohio, May 11, 1868, and spent his boyhood 
there, removing to Iowa with his parents in 



1882. where he received a public school educa- 
tion. He came to Keya Paha County in 1900 
and took a homestead. In 1896 he married 
.Miss Florence Ellis, and they have three chil- 
dren. He is a member of the Republican party 
and has been elected County Sheriff. 

THOMAS R. EVANS was born l"ebruary 
26, 1843, in Nautglyn, Deubighshire, Nortli 
Wales. He came to New York in 1857 and 
from there went to Waukesha County, Wis- 
consin, where he was appointed Postmaster 
under Abraham Lincoln in 1864 and 1865. He 
came to Norden, Nebraska, in 1883 and has 
engaged in farming in Keya Paha County. He 
is a Republican and has been surveyor of Keya 
Paha County since 1900 and also held that po- 
sition in 1864 and 1865 in Wisconsin. 

JESSIE RIPLEY was born in Sibley, Iowa, 
August 16, 1884. Her parents came to Ne- 
braska during the same year, settling in Keya 
Paha County, where they have since lived. 
Miss Ripley attended the high school at Sib- 
ley, Iowa. After her graduation she taught 
two years and has served nearly two terms 
as Deputy County Clerk. Her father home- 
steaded in what is now Keya Paha County be- 
fore its organization. , 

W. C. BROWN was born in .Syracuse, New 
York, November 28, 1853, and removed to 
Rochester in 1865. He attended the Collegiate 
Institute at Rochester and then entered a law- 
office in Pennsylvania and in 1884 came to 
Keya Paha County. He married Miss Ida 
Webster in 1875 and they have two daughters. 
He is a Republican and in Pennsylvania was 
.Mayor of Clarendon, has been County Attor- 
luy of Keya Paha County for four terms and 
State Senator during the twenty-eighth ses- 
sion of the Nebraska Legislature. 

L. A. WILSON, editor of the Springview 
Herald, is a native of Wisconsin, having been 
born in Georgetown, October 10, 1867, where 
he spent his boyhood days, graduating from 
tlie Plattcville State Normal School in 1890. 
He taught two years as Princii)al of the Al- 
toona Schools and then entered Northwestern 
University, graduating in 1897, having gradu 
ated from the School of Oratory connected 
with the I'niversitv in 1S92. In 1S98 he mar- 
ried Miss Minnie Bell and that .same year be- 
came Principal of the high school at Seward. 
Nebraska. He returned to Wisconsin in 1900 
to assist his father in business, but soon re- 
turned to Nebraska. After ranching in Keya 
Paha County for two years he bought the 



268 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Springview Herald, which he has since edited. 

SAMUEL AMSPOKER was born April 22, 
1837, in Ohio, where he grew to manhood and 
received his education in the common schools. 
In 1808 he came to Iowa and in the early 
eighties came to Nebraska, settling near Al- 
bion, and in 1884 he homesteaded in Keya Paha 
County, where he is engaged in farming and 
ranching. He was married in 18G1 to Miss 
Mary J. Caldwell of Kentucky and they have 
nine children. Mr. Amspoker has a ranch of 
three thousand acres seven miles east of 
Springview, where he makes his home at pres- 
ent. He is a member of the Republican part)- 
and served as Treasurer of Keya Paha County 
from 1898 to 1902. 

RALPH LEWIS was born at Farmersville, 



New York, February 3, 1842. He enlisted in 
Company D, Sixty-fourth New York Volun- 
teers, August 22, 1861, and was discharged 
March 22, 186G. In April of 1883 he moved to 
Keya Paha County from Warren, Pennsylva- 
nia, being one of the early settlers of Keya 
Paha County, and was active in organizing the 
county, which was a part of Brown County at 
the lime he came to the State. He was the 
first County Treasurer of Keya Paha County. 
Mr. Lewis has a fine ranch of 1,600 acres situ- 
ated on the Keya Paha River, is a prominent 
breeder of Hereford cattle and is one of the 
wealthiest men in the county. His family, 
consisting of six sons and two daughters, all 
reside on their ranches on the Keya Paha 
River, where they own a great deal of land. 
Mr. Lewis is active in Populist politics. 



KIMBALL COUNTY. 



Kimball County w^as organized sixteen 
years ago, in 1888. It has an area of 9fiU 
square miles and a population of 758, about 
one-third of which are residents of Kimball, 
the county seat. There is one graded school 
and fifteen common schools, in which nineteen 
teachers are employed. The 275 children are 
apportioned into eighteen districts. There are 
four districts which have a term of six months 
or more. There are no sandhills in Kimball 
County, and 70 per cent of the land is capable 
of cultivation. The untillable portion is used 
• as grazing land. The soil is generally dark 
and sandy, with a clay subsoil. Lodge Pole 
Creek is the principal waterway, and its valley 
averages one and one-half miles in breadth. 
This valley is irrigated by means of twenty- 
five miles of ditching, at a cost of $7.65 per 
acre. There are now 4,325 acres of land under 
irrigation, and hay and forage are the princi- 
pal crops. On the upland wells are from 125 
to 300 feet. Stock raising is the principal in- 
dustry, and in 1900 the live stock was valued at 
$703,225. Five thousand two hundred and 
twenty-five sheep and 1,625 cattle were in- 
cluded in this estimate. 

B. H. BUSHEE was born May 3, 1871, at 
Dartford, Wisconsin, from which State he 
came to Nebraska in 1888. He homesteaded 
here in 1892 and again in 1904 under the Kin- 
kaid law, having sold his first homestead. He 
was graduated from the Ripan, Wisconsin, 



High School in 1888. He taught six years in 
this county before accepting the office of 
Covmty Superintendent, which he now holds. 
He was first elected in 1895 and has twice been 
re-elected. In 1894 he married Ruth Cunning- 
ham. He became a partner of Henry Vogler 
in a general merchandise store in 1898, which 
business he still retains. He is a member of 
the Republican party. 

J. J. KINNEY is a native of Ireland, born 
July 15, 1845. At the age of twenty he came 
to the United States and located in Cedar 
County, Iowa. He moved to Lincoln County, 
Nebraska, in 1870 and two 3'ears later to his 
present home in Kimball County. Before this 
county was organized he served as County 
Commissioner of Cheyenne. He is now Coun- 
ty Attorney, having served four years in this 
capacity previous to his present term. His 
politics are Democratic. His first wife was 
Miss Margaret Fitzpatrick, who died in 1882. 
In 1885 he was married to Annie Shea of Iowa. 

E. W. BARTHOLOMEW is Sheriff of 
Kimball County. His birthplace is Wappalo 
County. Iowa, where he was born January 1, 
1858. In 1877 he moved to Polk County, Ne- 
braska, and ten years later homesteaded in this 
county. He spent the years of 1889 and 1890 
in Denver, Colorado. He is engaged in the 
confectionery business at Kimball, but for- 
merly he was a contractor and bricklayer. Po 
litically he is a Republican. His wife was Miss 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



269 




\V. D. ATKINS. 




ALFRED HANSEN. 




GUS LINN. K. \V. BARTHOLOMEW. 




HENRY H. PROUTY. 



Kimball County Court House 







U W. BICKEL. 



P. MAGINNIS. 



ROBERT GUNDERSON. 



IIKNKY VOGLEK. 



Cora E. DeShay, whom he mraried on October 
18, 1884, and they liave two sons and one 
daughter. 

F. M. WOOLDRIDGE is County Clerk 
and Clerk of District Court of Kimball County. 
He was born May 7, 1872, in York County, Ne- 
braska, from which place he moved to Exeter, 
Fillmore County, finally coming to Kimball 



Count}' in 1886. He was graduated from the 
I^incoln Business College in 1893. The next 
year he was married and now is engaged in the 
mercantile business at Kimball. In 190-1 he 
homesteaded in this county under the Kinkaid 
law and now has ()40 acres. He is affiliated 
with the Republicans. 
HENRY H. PROUTY, with the exception 



270 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



of two years, has been County Judge of Kim- 
ball County since 1895. He bas been sub- 
assistant on the Nebraska State Board of Irri- 
gation and also Justice of the Peace. He was 
born December 28, 1842, at Brattleboro, Ver- 
mont. At nineteen he enlisted as private in 
Company C, Second Vermont Regiment, and 
served through the Civil War, being discharged 
July 28, 1865, as Senior Captain of the regi- 
ment. After the war he returned to Vermont 
for two years. He then removed to Massachu- 
setts and in 1886 to Kimball, Nebraska. He 
is a Democrat, and March 16, 1867. was mar- 
ried to Miss Julia Hurley. 

P. MAGINNIS was born January 6, 1867, 
in Ireland, where he was educated. In 1880 he 
located in Brown County, Illinois, after which 
he moved to Aurora, Nebraska, and after some 
travel to Kimball County. He is a black- 
smith by trade, and is sole proprietor and 
owner of the Maginnis Flume Manufacturing 
Company of Kimball. For four years he was 
SheriflF and is now serving his second term 
as County Treasurer, his politics being Demo- 
cratic. He was married to Maggie A. Mar- 
shall in 1888 and he has five sons and one 
(laughter. 

A. H. AMOS was born May 31, 1842, in Bir- 
mingham, England, when he came to the 
United States in 1848 and located with his 
parents at Racine, Wisconsin. He next re- 
moved to Kearney, Nebraska, where he lived 
for two years before coming to Kimball 
County in 1887. He was educated in the pub 
lie schools and Beloit College of Wisconsin. 
He is' in his first term as County Commis- 
sioner and is an independent voter. He was a 
soldier in the Civil War and served both in 
Company A, First Battalion of Illinois Sharp- 
shooters, and in the First Wisconsin Heavy 
.Artillery. His ranching interests consist of 
320 acres of land, stocked with cattle and 
horses. In 1871 he married Julia McCumber. 

ROBERT GUNDERSON" is a ranch and 
cattleman and is in business with his father 
and brother. His father is one of the earliest 
settlers, having come here in 1869. He lives 
at Potter, Nebraska, where he was born, Sep- 
tember 15, 1876. At present he is a Commis- 
sioner of Kimball County and was married to 
Miss T.izzie .\pche on the 6th of .\pril, 1904. 

HENRY VOGLER is a merchant at Kim- 
ball, Nebraska, to which town he came in the 
fall of 1895. He was born in Germany, Octo- 
ber 8, 1864. After his arrival in this country 



in 1882 he located in Cass County, Nebraska. 
After working three years at Lincoln, he 
moved to Kimball County. He was educated 
in the public and high schools of Germany be- 
fore coming to the United States. He served 
three successive terms as County Clerk of 
Kimball County, beginning with 189.5. He is 
associated with the Democratic party. In 
July of 1887 he was married to Miss Clemen- 
tine Neeley. He has a large farm and ranch 
ing interests in this county. 

L. W. BICKEL was born at LeClair, lown 
on the 14th of November, 1860. At the age 
of nineteen he came to Nebraska with his par- 
ents, and located at Exeter, Fillmore County. 
In 1886 he opened up a bank at Kimball and 
has since been here in the banking business. 
He acquired his education in Iowa and was 
graduated in the fall of 1879 from the D. R. 
Lillibridgc Business College at Davenport. 
Iowa. Air. Bickel has large ranching interests 
in this county, which comprise about 3,000 
acres of land. He was County Commissioner 
and served as County Treasurer for eight 
years. In 1887 he married Miss Jennie Beard. 

GI^S LINN is a native of Sweden, born De- 
cember 2, 1862. At the age of twenty he came 
to the United States and located in Pennsylva- 
nia. In 1882 he moved to Michigan, where he 
worked two years in the lumber business. 
.A.fter spending another two vears in this busi- 
ness at Omaha, he came to Kimball, where he 
is a dealer in lumber and hardware. He was 
County Treasurer for two terms and is also 
ex-County Judge. In 1888 he married Anna 
Willing of Omaha and they have seven sons. 
He is aflfiliated with the Republican party. 

ALFRED HANSEN is ex-County Sheriff 
of Kimball County, which office he held for six 
vears. He was County Commissioner for 
three years, and was also County Coroner. He 
was born September 8. 1864. in Denmark, 
whence he came to the United States in 1881 
and located at Denver, Colorado. After a year 
in the mountains, he moved to Kimball Coun- 
tv. Nebraska, where he has since lived. He is 
:'ffiliated with the Republican party. In 1889 
I'c married Miss Sonhia Anderson. Her death 
occurred July 8, 1900, and she left a son and 
daughter. 

W. D. .\TKINS has lived in Kimball 
County since 1887, the first twenty years of 
his life being spent in Iowa and Missouri. His 
birth occurred in Davis County, Iowa, Septem- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



271 



ber 2, 1867. His vocation is that of a ranch- 
man, although he is serving his second term 
as Mayor of Kimball. In 1890 he was mar- 



ried to Elizabeth Pywell and they have two 
sons and three daughters. He is allied with 
the Democratic party. 



KNOX COUNTY. 



Previous to 1857 Knox County was occu- 
jiied by Omahas and Poncas. In 18fi4 the sol- 
diers sent to Niobrara to furnish protection 
from the Indians proved to be a far greater 
luiisance than the red men themselves, so that 
all but one settler left the county. (Organiza- 
tion took place in 1S57, by which the county 
was granted an area of 1,121 square miles. 
The surface is composed of level and rolling 
prairie land, together with the bluffs, valleys 
and bottom land along the waterwaj's. The 
valley land comprises 10 per cent of the entire 
surface. Many large boulders are found here. 
A thick strata of chalk rock lies under the 
surface and also a good quality of clay, which 
furnishes material for three brick yards. Tlie 
soil is rich and fertile, only 2.5 per cent of it 
being untillable. Quite an amount of native 
timber grows on the borders of the Niobrara, 
Missouri and other streams which water the 
county. Land has increased 3.') per cent in 
the last five years, and now the best land is 
selling for over ,$40 an acre. The principal farm 
products are the cereals, hay. alfalfa, potatoes, 
sugar beets and vegetables. Plums, cherries, 
apples and small fruits thrive here. Farm 
land comprises 545,176 acres, and 313,706 acres 
of this is improved land, which makes Knox 
one of the first counties in this respect. Corn 
and oats cover the greater part of the culti- 
vated land, the acreage of corn being 60,000 
and that of oats 40,000. Of live stock, the 
market of hogs is the largest. In 1900 the en- 
tire live stock was valued at $2,436,916. There 
are six flour and grist mills. The county pop- 
ulation is 14.343. of which 5,894 is made up of 
.school children. There are 22 districts whose 
school term lasts nine months or more, and 
sixty-seven districts whose term is from six to 
nine months. There are six graded schools, for 
which twenty-nine teachers are employed. 
Center is the present cotmtv seat. 

F. C. M.\RSHALL is a native Nebraskan 
having been born June 25, 1880, in Knox 
County, where he has always resided. He is 
a graduate of both the Niobrara High School 
and the Nebraska College at Wayne, Ne- 



braska. Mr. Marshall was Principal of Schools 
at Verdigre, Nebraska, for two and a half 
vears, having spent seven years as a teacher, 
lie is as.sociated with the' Republican partv 
and has been elected County .Superintendent 
'if Knox County. 

W. D. FUNK was born in Iowa City, Iowa 
.September 18, 18.58. In 1870 he removed with 
Ills parents to Benton County, remaining there 
nntil 1892, when he came to Rloomfield, Ne- 
I)raska. where he has made his home. He 
!'raduated from the Law Department of the 
I'niversity of Iowa in 1886 and has been City 
Utorney of Bloonificld for manv vears. Mr. 
i^mk is a member of the Republican party and 
has been nominated for a second term as 
Countv Attorney. In 1883 he married Miss 
Cora King and they have two .sons and two 
• laughters. 

A. C. LOGAN was born in Wood Countv 
( )hio, February 10, 1835. His parents removed 
to Indiana the same year and he lived there 
"ntil 1862, when he enlisted in Company H, 
F.ighty-seventh Indiana Volunteers, serving 
three years. When mustered out he was in 
command of his company and received his 
commission as Captain soon after. In 1865 he 
went to Illinois and remained there seventeen 
\ears, when he settled in Knox County. Mr. 
Logan has served two terms as Countv fudge 
Mnd was appointed as Assistant Sergeant at 
Arms of the Republican National Convention 
in Chicago. 

J. H. STODDARD was born in Connecli- 
.■ut._ March 20, 18,56. In 1879 he came to 
Creighton, where he has since resided He 
was educated in the Connecticut public 
schools, IS a member of the Republican partv 
and IS servmg his second term as Countv 
Treasurer. In 1876 he married Miss Julia A 
Pilpenny and thev have five children 
^ B. N. SAUNDFRS was born in' Ledvard 
Connecticut, September 16, 1870. Two vears 
later he came with his parents to Nebraska 
where they settled in Knox Cotmty in 1873' 
He was educated at Gates College and the 
Omaha Business College. In 1889 he married 



272 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




W. D. FUNK. 



J. H. STODDARD. PHIL B. CLARK. A. C. LOGAN. 



B. Y. SHELLEY. 






III 


■ 


L*^^ 


j| 


1 


w 




1 


^yj 


1 


1 





BAKEIR. 



W. 



ELLIS. 



R. S. COOK. 



F. C. MARSHALL. 



Miss May Hamilton and has one son. As a 
member of the Democratic party he has been 
Clerk of the District Court since 1899. 

CHARLES RUDEN was born on the pres- 
ent site of Crofton, Nebraska, March 16, 1871. 
In 1885 he removed with his parents to Hart- 
ington, in 1889 to Omaha, in 1891 to Bloom- 
field and in 1899 settled at Crofton, where he 
has been engaged in farming and dealing in 
implements. In 1897 he married Miss Anna 
Piuhrow and has three children. He is a mem- 
ber of the Republican party and has been called 
to serve his second term as County Clerk. 

A. A. BAKER was born in Mercer County, 
Pennsylvania, June 22, 18(50. In 188.5 he came 
to Knox County, where he has since resided. 
He obtained his education in the Greenville, 
Pennsylvania, High School and the State Nor- 
mal at Edinburgh. He taught two years in 
Pennsylvania and twenty-four years in Knox 
County, receiving a life certificate in both 
States. In 1891 he married Miss Nellie Agnes 
and they have two children. Mr. Baker was 
elected County Assessor on the Republican 
ticket. 



O. A. DANIELSON was born in Sweden, 
January 5, 1872. When a boy of nine years 
his parents came to America and located at 
Red Oak, Iowa. The family afterwards moved 
to Dixon County, Nebraska, and in 1900 settled 
in Knox County, engaging in farming. In th'i 
Iowa and Nebraska public schools he received 
an education, and having been identified with 
the Republican party, has been appointed Dep- 
uty Treasurer of Knox County. 

PHIL B. CLARK was born in Scott County. 
Iowa, January 21, 1868, and five years later 
removed with his parents to Kansas, later to 
Iowa, and in 1880 settled in Knox County. 
He gained his education in the Nebraska pub- 
lic schools and the Commercial School of 
Omaha, and is an abstracter. He held the 
office of Deputy County Clerk from 1893 to 
189.5 and County Clerk from 1897 to 1901, and 
was elected on the Populist ticket. In 1894 he 
married Miss Rosa Stein and has three chil • 
dren. 

R. S. COOK was born in Granville, New 
York. October 9, 1873. In 1886 he came to 
Nebraska with his parents and has spent his 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



278 



life in Knox County, following the profession 
of abstracter of titles. He was educated at 
the Friends' Select School of Granville and in 
the Ewing High School. He is affiliated with 
the Democratic party, and has been Deputy 
County Clerk for four years. Mr. Cook is a 
single man and homesteaded in Knox County. 
W. R. ELLIS was born September 10, 18G9, 
in Mp.dison County, Nebraska. His father 
came to Madison County in 1867, and W. R. 



Ellis was the first white boy born in this 
county. His mother taught the first school in 
the county. Mr. Ellis attended the common 
schools and the Normal College at Madison, 
Nebraska, and studied law in the office of Sen- 
ator Allen. He was married to Miss Edna 
Cooper in 1894, and they have two sons. In 
1896 he moved to Knox County, where he has 
a good practice. He served as Attorney of 
Knox County from 1899 to 1903. 



LANCASTER COUNTY. 



In 1857 the first permanent settlement in 
Lancaster County was made on Salt Creek fif- 
teen miles south of Lincoln. These earliest res- 
idents were John D. I'rey and family, consist- 
ing of a wife, daughter and three sons, John 
W., David, and William. This same year, 
claims were taken along upper Salt Creek, ex- 
tending from Hickman to Saltillo. The first 
settlement near Lincoln was made by Capt. 
W. T. Donovan and family in the summer of 
1857. Capt. Donovan came from Pittsburgh, 
Penn. to Plattsmouth on the Missouri in com- 
mand of the steamer "Emma." He settled on 
the west bank of Salt Creek near the mouth of 
Oak Creek. At this time. Salt Creek was 
the boundary line between the tribes of Paw- 
nee and Otoe Indians. There were a few con- 
flicts between the settlers and the red men, but 
few lives were lost. The first native white 
child of the county was Morton Donovan, 
while a son of Mrs. Michael Shea was the sec- 
ond chilli born here. The first school in this 
county was taught by Robert F. Thurston in 
a dugout at Yankee Hill, on the present site of 
the Hospital for the Insane. The progress of 
the early schools was interrupted by Indian 
troubles. In the fall of 1867 a small stone 
school house \yas erected in Lincoln on the 
corner of Eleventh and Q Sts. This first Lin- 
coln school was taught by George Peck, with 
about .35 pupils in attendance. There are now 
22,0'15 children in the county of school age. 
Lancaster has 16 graded schools supplied with 
254 teachers which is a record not equalled bv 
any other county. The county was organ- 
ized in 1859, with an area of 864 square miles. 
The population is 64,835, while the inhabitants 
of Lincoln, the county seat and state capital, 
number about 45,000. The land is for the most 
part a rolling prairie, while valley land occu- 



pies about 15 per cent of the surface. The soil 
on the higher lands is a gray loam and in the 
valleys a dark loam with a clay subsoil 162,381 
acres are devoted to the raising of corn and 
75,618 acres to the raising of oats. Hogs and 
corn are the principal farm products. About 
$190,000 is yearly expended for farm labor. 
Land has increased in value from $5 to $15 
per acre in the last few years, and 935 land 
transfers were made in the last two years, 
prior to 1903. All kinds of hay, small grain 
and corn are raised, and Lancaster ranks first 
in the state in her production of milk, butter 
and eggs. There are as many as 500 acres of 
sugar beets raised in the county in a year. 
Salt Creek is the principal stream, and other 
creeks are Oak, Middle, Haines and Antelope. 

JAMES L. CALDWELL was born on a 
farm near Columbiana, Ohio, May 23, 1853. In 
1857 he moved to Iowa but returned to Ohio 
in 1861. In 1873 he moved to Marshalltown, 
Iowa, and settled in Lincoln, Nebraska, in 
1878. He received his education in various 
schools in Ohio. He served as a Councilman 
in Lincoln and was a member of the Legisla- 
ture in 1887 and 1889. He was a special as- 
sistant to the United States Attorney in 1901 
and 1902. Mr. Caldwell is a member of the 
Republican party and has served two terms as 
Attorney of Lancaster County. 

WALTER L. DAWSON was born March 
20, 1865 at Lafayette, Indiana of American 
parentage. He came to Nebraska in 1873 and 
has been engaged in clerical work. He at- 
tended the Business College at Fremont, Ne- 
braska, is a member of the Republican party 
and has been elected County Clerk on that 
ticket. He has been a book-keeper in the Land 
Commissioner's office and has served as Dep- 
uty County Treasurer, Deputy County Clerk 



274 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




NICHOLAS RESS W. S. SCOTT J. D. MOORE 



BENJ. F. KNIGHT JAS. L. CALDWELL 




O. R. BOWMAN 




WM. C. PHILLH'S 




Lancaster County Court House 

and Secretary of the Republican County Com- 
mittee. 

J. D. MOORE was born in June, 1847 in 
Thedford, Vermont. His parents were D. F. 
Moore and Esther Moore. He received his 
education in the high school of Rockford, 
Illinois. Since January 1902 he has been Reg- 
ister of Deeds of Lancaster County. He is a 
member of the Republican party. 




FRANK R. W.ATKRS 




W. I.. DAWSON. 



NICHOLAS RESS is a native of Germany, 
having been born in Ibind, June 1, 18G7. In 
1881 he came to Illinois and three years later 
located in Lincoln, Nebraska. He is a book- 
keeper by profession, having received his 
training in the Gem City Business College of 
Quincy, Illinois. He is a member of the Re- 
publican party and served as Deputy Sheriff 
of Lancaster County. 

BENJAMIN F. KNIGHT was born May 11, 



l.s.^i in Morgantown, Indiana. He received his 
education in the high school of Morgantown 
and in the Northwestern University of In- 
dianapolis, Indiana. From Indiana he came to 
Nebraska March 13, 1884 and has engaged in 
farming. He is a member of the Republican 
])arty and was elected County Treasurer of 
Lancaster County on that ticket. 

O. R. BOWMAN was born of American 
parentage October 30, 1869 in Bureau County, 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



275 



Illinois. He was educated in the University 
of Nebraska and received the degree of Sc. B. 
and has followed teaching as a vocation. He 
is a member of the Republican party and is 
now serving as Superintendent of Public In- 
struction of Lancaster County, having been 
elected in 1903. 

W. S. SCOTT is a native of New York 
State, having been born in Fortsville, August 
13, 1865. Five years later he came to Ne- 
braska and was educated in the Lincoln High 
School and the University of Nebraska. By 
profession he is a civil engineer. Mr. Scott 
was elected County Surveyor on the Republi- 
can ticket and is an assistant in the City En- 
gineer's office. His parents are N. S. and 
Emilv R. Scott. 

WILLIAM C. nilLLIPS was born in 



Cadiz, Ohio, November 10, 18G8. From Ohio 
he came to Nebraska in 1871 and graduated 
from the Lincoln High School in 1887. Jan- 
uary 4, 1900 he entered upon his duties as 
Clerk of the District Court of Lancaster 
County, having been elected on the Republi- 
can ticket. His parents are William P. and 
]\Iary E. Phillips. 

FRANK R. WATERS was born November 
■?0, ISCO in Chillocothc, Ross County, Ohio. 
His father, Asa B. Waters, was a' banker. 
Judge Waters came to Nebraska in 1885 and 
in 188(j located at Lincoln, where he engaged 
in the practice of law. He has also taught 
school in the county. In 1892 he was elected 
Police Judge and served for three terms in 
that capacity. In January, 1900 he entered 
upon his duties as Judge of Lancaster County. 



LINCOLN COUNTY. 



Lincoln County is a plain which rolls from 
a height of 2,(J()0 feet in the eastern part to 
an elevation of nearly 3,000 feet in the west. 
The soil is dark and sandy, being underlaid in 
most places with clay. North and South 
Platte Rivers cross the country, and man}' 
smaller streams supply water for the stock. 
In 1900 live stock was valued at $1,9-2!). 551. 
18,000 hogs making a part of this valuation. 
The rearing of cattle, horses and sheep on 
large ranges is the most general occupation. 
Land has risen in price to the amount of one- 
fourth since 1897, and there is at present a 
large demand for farms and ranges. There are 
1,458 farms, almost all of which are improved. 
Corn and hay are the principal crops, and the 
acreage of corn is 53,178. Wheat, oats, rye, 
barley, sorghum, cane and alfalfa are also 
profitably grown. Hay land sells for $13 to 
$18 per acre. Beginning with the year 17(i'2 
parties of explorers kept passing through this 
region at intervals for a period of about 100 
years. Most of these parties were sent out in 
l)chalf of St. Louis fur companies for the pur,- 
])ose of trading with the Indians. Mr. P>rady, 
who came to the county in 1852, was the ear- 
liest resident. He built his log house on the 
south side of the island formed by the North 
and South Platte Rivers. Brady Island, as it 
is now called, is about fifteen miles long by 
two miles wide. The first permanent settle- 
ment in the county was in the shape of a trad- 



ing ranch, which was established at Cotton- 
wood Springs in 1858, with I. P. Boyer in 
charge. A great many such ranches were 
formed along the popular emigrant route. 
These ranches were collected in groups, a dis- 
tance of ten to twelve miles lying between the 
stations. Mill and stage lines were established 
and in 1801 Ed Creighton of Omaha completed 
his telegraph line. Mrs. Orra McDonald was 
the first white woman to reside in the county. 
The rush of emigrants was so great that from 
700 to 1,000 wagons passed a ranch dailv. The 
first white native of the county was William 
1 f. McDonald. In 1804 commenced the war 
with the Siou.K and Chcyennes, which was 
caused mostly by the injustice of white men. 
In LS72 the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia 
came to North Platte for a buffalo hunt. The 
hunt was arranged by General Sheridan and 
guided by Buffalo P.iil. or \\", ]■, Cody, Dur- 
ing this hunt of one week the Duke secured 
two buffalo skins. This large county was or- 
ganized in 1800 with an area of 2,593 square 
miles. The capital, North Platte, contains 
3.010 people and the county population is 11,- 
4 Pi. There are 105.35 miles of railway. There 
are over 22,508 acres of land under irrigation ; 
1,187 acres are devoted to the sugar beet in- 
dustry. 

A. H. D.WIS was born in Poplar Plains. 
Keiituckv. December 1, 1850. He came to 
North Plnlte, Nebraska, in 187! and com- 



276 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




J. S. HOAGLAND. WILEY MATTHEWS. A. H. DAVIS. LINCOLN CARPENTERCHARLES P. ROSS. 




C. F. SCHARMANN. 





V0RHEB3 LUCAS. 



Lincoln County Court House 







GEO. E. PROSSER E. R. PLUMMER. 



OSCAR W. NEALE. ^- S. DAVIS. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



277 





F. R. GINN. 



B. B. WARNER. 



menccd as a cowboy on the range. He has a 
lartje law library, consisting of about six hun- 
dred volumes. During 1894 and 1895 he stud- 
ied law with Grimes & Wilcox, commenced 
practicing the next year and graduated from 
the Law Department of the University of Ne- 
braska in 1899. For seven years Mr. Davis 
was engaged in newspaper work. He has al- 
ways been a Republican and has served two 
terms as Police Judge and City Attorney of 
North Platte and at present is County Attor- 
ney of Lincoln County. 

LINCOLN CARPENTER, serving his sec- 
ond term as Sheriff of Lincoln County, was 
born May 1, 18G0, at Delphos, CJhio, where he 
was educated and married to Diana Harch, De- 
cember 23, 1881. They are the parents of four 
sons and two daughters. In October, 1883, he 
moved to Lexington, Illinois, where he re- 
mained until the spring of 188-5, when he came 
to Geneva, Nebraska, and in 1891 located in 
Lincoln County. Mr. Carpenter is a Repub- 
lican and has served as County Commissioner, 
Precinct Assessor and member of the School 
Board in Lincoln C-^unty. 

OSCAR W. NEALE was born on a farm in 
Birmingham, Ohio, December 17, 1873. He 
was educated in the public schools of Bir- 
mingham and Kinibalton, C)hio, and graduated 
from Dennison University in 1890. In 1894 he 
located at North Platte, taught in the graded 
schools there, was two years Principal of 
Schools at Sutherland, Nebraska, and is now 
serving his second term as Superintendent of 
Lincoln County, being affiliated with the Re- 
publican party. Mr. Neale was married Julv 
6, 1898, to Miss Cora D. Combs of North 
Platte, and they have one son. 

C. F. SCHARM.A.NN was born in Lycoming 
County, Pennsylvania, September 8, 1867. He 



came to Thayer County, Nebraska, in 1878, re- 
maining there until January, 1881, when he 
came to North Platte. He attended the Uni- 
versity of Nebraska for three years, is a sten- 
ographer and bookkeeper by vocation, and 
i> also interested in ranching. He was mar- 
ried July 3, 1900, to Miss Nannie S. Andrews 
' >f Steele City, Nebraska, and they have one 
^(jn. Mr. Scharmann served two terms as 
I'ounty Treasurer, City Clerk two terms, 
( ouncilman two terms and was Court Re- 
jjorter of the Thirteenth Judicial District two 
and a half years. At present he is Judge of 
Lincoln County. In tiie Spanish-American 
War he enlisted in May, 1898, as Junior Major 
of the Third Nebraska Regiment, and was 
mustered out in May, 1899, as Senior Major, 
being the third in command. Prior to the 
Spanish-American War he had been Captain 
and Major of the Second Nebraska of the Na- 
tional Guard. 

E. S. DAVIS was born in Monroe County, 
Iowa, December 18, 18G9. In 1882 his parents 
removed to Indianola, Iowa, where he gradu- 
ated from the high school in 1887. In 1887 he 
went to Sidney, Iowa, worked in a hardware 
store until January, 1891, and came to Broken 
Bow, Nebraska, that same year. In 1894 
moved to North Platte, where he was engaged 
in the hardware business until taking up the 
duties of Deputy Treasurer in 1900. He was 
married in October, 1892, at Sidney, Iowa, to 
Miss Clara Eskew, and they have one son. 
Mr. Davis is a Republican, serving his first 
term as County Treasurer. 

GEORGE E. PROSSER was horn in Prov- 
idence, Rhode Island, October 2, 1859. He re- 
sided in Pennsylvania, where his mother died ; 
in New York, Ohio and Connecticut before 
coming to Lincoln County, Nebraska, in 1886. 
He has been in the real estate and insurance 
business, was educated in the public schools of 
Ohio and Pennsylvania, and was married to 
Miss Mattie Bowen of Norwalk, Ohio, Junr 19, 

1883. He has served as Deputy County Treas- 
urer, Deputy Clerk of the District Court and 
at one time Clerk in the United States Land 
Office at North Platte. At present he is Clerk 
of the District Court. 

F. R. GINN was born August 13, 1870, in 
Galena, Illinois, and that same year his parents 
moved to Perry, Iowa, remaining th.-re until 

1884, when they came to Lincoln Countv. 
After going to Honolulu and Alaska, lie 
settled in Lincoln County in 1887. In 1892 



278 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



he graduated from the college at Indian- 
apolis, Indiana, and in 1895 was marr'cd 
to Miss Ada Martin of Des Moines, Iowa, 
and they have two sons. He is a Republican 
and is serving his second term as County Clerk 
and was also City Clerk of North Platte for 
three years. He is President of the Duck 
Brand Ranch, in which he is a large share- 
holder. 

WILEY MATTHEWS.a retired farmer and 
a member of the Board of County Commission- 
ers of Lincoln County, was born June 27, 1842, 
in Morgan Colmty, Indiana, where he lived 
until 18.58, when he moved to Illinois. He 
served in Company E of the Fifth Illinois Cav- 
alry and Company I of the 135th Illinois In- 
fantry and was mustered out in September. 
18()4. He received his education in Indiana, 
and was married in October, 1863, to Miss 
Margaret Jackson, who died in January, 1870. 
He was again married to Miss Eliza Edwards 
of Coles County, Illinois. Mr. Matthews came 
to Nebraska in 1887 and is the father of four 
children. 

E. R. PLUMMER is a native of Aurora, In- 
diana. He was born February 1-4, 1854, and in 
1856 his parents removed to Illinois, where he 
was educated and remained until 1878, when 
he came to York, Nebraska. He lived in Colo- 
rado three years, during which time he was 
He was married in 1882 to Miss O. Anna Tracy 
Mayor of Julesburg and Deputy County Clerk, 
of York County. Mr. Plummer is a Repub- 
lican and is the Deputy Treasurer of Lincoln 
Conuty. His father served in the Civil ^Var 
and was severely wounded at Bull Run and 
Fort Donelson. 

E. B. WARNER was born in Warner, Onon- 
daga County, New York, June 28, 1853. His 
father, Marshall D. Warner, was a Methodist 
minister. At the age of si.x his parents moved 
to Illinois and two years later went to Wis- 
consin, where his boyhood days were spent at 
Fond du Lac. He returned to New York 
State in 1875 and four years later came to 
North Platte, Nebraska. Received his educa- 
tion in the Fond du Lac High School and is 
engaged in the furniture and undertaking busi- 
ness. He is Past Great Sachem of the Red 
Men in Nebraska and has been the representa- 
tive of Nebraska to the Great Order of the 
United States for six years. He has been 
Mayor of North Platte for four terms, County 



Coroner .two terms, City Clerk two terms and 
was a delegate to the Republican National 
Convention held at Minneapolis, Minnesota, 
in 1892. 

VOORHEES LUCAS was born on a farm, 
Julv 28, liS69. at Bloomington, Indiana, where 
he lived until 1880, when he moved to Sheri- 
dan. Iowa, and from there he went to Custer 
County, Nebraska, with his father in 1886. In 
1891 he came to North Platte and was em- 
ployed there until 1895, when his medical edu- 
cation had been completed. He graduated in 
1895 from the College of Medicine of the Uni- 
versity of Nebraska, and took post-graduate 
work at the New York Polyclinic in 1901. Mr. 
Lucas worked his way through school and has 
been practicing at North Platte since 1897. He 
married Miss Susie Eraser of Kearney, Ne- 
braska, in 1902. 

J. S. HOAGLAND is a native of New Jer- 
sey, having been born in Jersey City, February 
10, 1847. He moved to Bunker Hill, Illinois, 
in 1857 and came to Lincoln, Nebraska, in 
1872, where he served as Deputy Sheriff and 
also Sheriff of Lancaster County, and moved 
to North Platte in 1884. He received his edu- 
cation and studied law in Illinois, and after 
going out of the Sheriff's office at Lincoln be- 
gan practicing law, and has practiced since. 
In February, 18G5, about the time he would 
have graduated, he enlisted in the 152d Illinois 
Infantry and served nine months. In 1868 he 
was married to Maria L. Waples of Madison 
County, Illinois, and they have two sons, W. 
E. and A. B. Hoagland. Politically he is a 
Republican, has been Judge of Lincoln County 
and in 1895 was a member of the State Senate. 
He has been the representative from Nebraska 
to the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows 
since 1889. 

CHARLES P. ROSS was born July 30, 
1858, in Ohio, from which State he went to 
Missouri and then came to Nebraska. He 
graduated from a private academy and a busi- 
ness college and received the degree of Civil 
Engineer at Porter College. He has been ac- 
tively engaged in his profession for tv.enty-one 
years on railroad work, irrigation canals and 
water supplj^ systems. He has served three 
terms as County Surveyor of Lincoln County 
and has been City Engineer of North Platte 
for twelve terms. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



279 



LOGAN COUNTY. 




FRANKLIN R. HOGEBOOM 

Logan County was organized in 1885, with 
an area of 5T() square miles. It lias a popula- 
tion of !t()0, and Gandy is its county seat. The 
surface is made up of prairie land, the valleys 
of South Loup River and several small creeks 
and sand hills. Land has increased two-fifths 
in value since 1S9T, and the records show a sale 
of over ].")() farms in the last two years. The 
soil is dark and sandy, with a clay subsoil, and 
cereals, vegetables and hay are its best pro- 
ducts. One hundred and two thousand eight 
hundred and sixty-five acres are included in 
farm land, while the entire number of farm 
buildings is valued at $.''>8,3!)0. Wells vary in 
depth from 5 to 250 feet, according to eleva- 



tion. The timber supply is made up mostly of 
Cottonwood and bo.x elder trees. The highest 
prices are paid for hay land, which lirings from 
$15 to $18 an acre. The good pasture and 
water resources make stock raising a leading 
occupation. I^ogan County is divided intcj 15 
school districts, seven of which maintain 
schools of six to nine months during the year. 
The county is unique in possessing an iron 
schoolhousc. There are 331 school children 
and the school property amounts to $7,439. 

LEW WILLI.VMS was horn March 12, 
1854, in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his father, B. 
I'". Williams, was employed as a bookkeeper. 
He removed from Ohio to Indiana and settled 
in Nebraska in 1875. Since in this state he 
has been in the ranching business Mr. Wil- 
liams is a member of the Democratic party and 
has been elected Clerk of Logan County. 

FRANKLIN R. HOGEBOOM is a native 
of New York State, having been born in 1854 
in Ghent, Columbia County. He took the de- 
gree of Bachelor of Law at Columbia College 
in 1877 and the next year came to Custer 
County, Nebraska, and in 1880 took a liome- 
stead in Logan County, being the oldest h o't-e- 
steader in the county. He now owns a fine 
ranch at the head of Loup River. Mr. Hoge- 
boom is a member of the Republican party and 
has served as County Attorney, .^r,r\eyi'r, 
Postmaster and at present is the Judge of 
Logan County. 



LOUP COUNTY. 



Forty per cent of Loup County is tillable 
land. The most valuable land is farm land, 
which sells at prices ranging from $20 to $30 
per acre. The Loup and Calamus Rivers, with 
many small streams and lakes, furnish the 
water supply. Alfalfa and sugar beets grow 
well in these valleys. Wells here are from IC 
to 25 feet deep, while on the higher lands they 
are from 75 to 350 feet. Irrigai'on is l^ei ig 
tried to some extent. There are great num- 
bers of cattle, horses and sheep, and in 1900 
the value of the county live stock was esti- 
mated at $387,844. The land is made up of 
rolling prairie and sand hills, and there is good 
pasturageevcrywhere. Thereisat jiresent an ac- 
tive demand for ranches. Hay, potatoes, c >rn. 



wheat and oats are the chief products. Corn oc- 
cupies 7,515 acres of land, wh'le sjjring wheat 
covers 2,(i80 acres. Loup County was organ- 
ized in 1883. It has a population of 1,305 peo- 
ple, and its county seat is Taylor. There are 
234 square miles of territory not yet organized 
into school districts. There are twenty-four 
districts, which comprise twenty .school build- 
ings, seven of which are well furnished with 
the necessary apparatus. Eight of the school 
districts have terms lasting from six to nine 
months. The school property amounts to 
$6,972.50. 

W. L. JOHNSON is a native of Nebraska, 
having been born in Colon, Saunders County, 
January 24, 1872. His father came from Swe- 



280 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 







T,. Q. BAILS. 



R. S. SCO FIELD. 



G. S. HENRY. 



A. S. MOON. 







1,. M. MOULTON. 



W. A. CLARK. 



J. RUSHO. 



G. A. ICVANS. 




Loup County Court House 

den to the United States about 1867 and home- 
steaded in Saunders County, Nebraska, in 1869 
The family went to Loup County in 1882, 
wliere the father took a tree claim. Mr. John- 
son received his education in the Fremont Nor- 
mal College and the State University of Ne- 
braska, and taught in Loup County before he 
was elected County Superintendent. He is a 



Republican and was Deputy Postmaster at 
Taylor, Nebraska. Mr. Johnson was married 
to Miss Viola Newbecker of Taylor in 1903. 
He was a member of Company F of the Third 
XcViraska Volunteers in the Spanish-American 
War and went to Florida with the regiment. 

G. A. EVANS was born November 26, 1863, 
in Madison County, Iowa, where he received 
liis education in the public schools. He came 
to Nebraska and located in Loup County in 
ISSC) and took a homestead in 1890. He was 
married to Miss Nettie Hooper of Loup County 
in 1890 and they have four daughters. Mr. 
Evans is a member of the People's Independ- 
ent party and has served the public as Road 
Supervisor, Deputy Sheriff and is now serving 
his second term as Sheriff of Loup County. 

R. S. SCOFIELD was born March 21, 1871, 
in O'Brien County. Iowa. His parents moved 
to Brownville, Nebraska, in 1873. His father 
served in the Civil War in an Indiana regiment 
for three years. Mr. Scofield was educated in 
the Brownville and Nemaha High Schools and 
was the founder and editor of the "Johnson 
News" of Johnson, Nebraska, which he pub- 
lished for ten years. He was married in 1892 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



to Miss M. Melissa Minick of Nemaha, Ne- 
braska, and they have one son and one daugh- 
ter. Mr. Scofield settled in Loup County in 
1901 and is editor of the Loup County News. 
He is serving his first term as County Judge, 
having been elected by the Fusionists. 

G. S. HENRY was born .-Kpril 17, 187:3, in 
Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, and removed 
to Adair County, Iowa, in 1877. Came to Loup 
Coimty, Nebraska. February 21, 1884. Mr. 
Henry received his education in the schools at 
Cromwell and Fontanelle, Iowa, and the dis- 
trict schools of Loup County, Nebraska. He 
was married May 26, 1904, to Miss Myrtle B. 
Messersmith of Taylor, Nebraska. He is a 
Republican in politics and is serving his first 
term as Clerk of Loup Comity. His father 
served in a Pennsvlvania regiment during the 
Civil War from 18G3 to 18G5. 

H. E. CARTER was born in Elmore, Ver- 
mont, January 22, 1848. He was educated in 
the People's Academy at Morrisville, Ver- 
mont, and came to Nebraska in 1885. By pro- 
fession he is a lawyer, and in 1878 and 1879 
was State's Attorney for Caledonia County, 
Vermont, and in 1880 and 1881 was a repre- 
sentative in the \'ermont Legislature. I'rom 
1886 to 1892 he was Attorney for Loup Coun- 
ty, which office he is filling at the present time. 
In 1896 he was Mavor of Tekamah, Nebraska. 
L. M. MOULTON was born in Woodford 
County, Illinois, November 19, 1839. He came 
to Franklin County, Nebraska, in 1871 and was 
one of the founders of Bloomini;lon. Ne- 
braska. In 1883 he moved to Loup Countv. 
He graduated from Eureka College of Wood- 
ford County, Illinois, in 1860, admitted to the 
bar in Nebraska June 4, 1874. In May, 1861, 
he married Miss Pcrmelia Clingman of Wood- 
ford County, Illinois. Mr. Moulton enlisted 
in Company B of the Eleventh Illinois Infan- 
try in September of 1861, but was discharged. 
He enlisted again in 1864 and served until the 
close of the war and was a participant in the 
Mobile campaign. In Illinois he served as Po- 
lice Judge and District Prosecuting Attorney, 
and was Judge of Franklin County, Nebraska, 
two terms ; also served as Judge and Attorney 
of Loup County, two terms in each office. 



L. Q. 1;.\1LS was born near Charlestown, 
Illinoi.s, July 13, 1865. In 1878 his parents 
moved to Sarpy County, Nebraska, where they 
lived until 1890, when they settled in Loup 
County. His father was a mechanic in an Illi- 
nois regiment during the Civil War. Mr. Bails 
homesteaded in Western Nebraska in 1886 
and now owns a farm near Burwell, Nebraska. 
He was educated in the public schools of Ne- 
braska and the Fremont Normal College of 
Fremont, Nebraska. He is a Populist and 
served two terms as Treasurer of Loup 
County. 

A. S. MOON was born in Schuyler County, 
New York, December 13, 1857, received his 
education in the public schools and at the 
Seminary of Starkey, New York. He came to 
what is now Loup County, Nebraska, in 1877, 
then unorganized territory. He studied law 
at Taylor, Nebraska, imder the instruction of 
attorneys of Ord, Nebraska, and was admitted 
to the bar in 1887. Politically he is a Repub- 
lican, and has been County Superintendent of 
Loup County and County Attorney for two 
terms. 

J. RUSHO, one of the oldest settlers of Loup 
County, farmer and business man, located in 
1877, one hundred miles from Grand Island, 
then the nearest town. The town of Taylor 
was laid out by Mr. Rusho in November, 1883. 
He was born May 23, 1850, in West Bend, 
Wisconsin ; moved to Rice Lake, Minnesota, 
in 1863, and then to Nebraska. He received 
his education in the public schools and Milton 
.\cademy of Rock County, Wisconsin. Mr. 
Rusho was married, October 8, 1872, to Miss 
Josephine Murry of Delavan, Minnesota, and 
they are the parents of nine children, eight of 
whom are still living. 

W. A. CLARK was born May 12, 1854, on 
a farm at Walnut Postofifice, Pennsylvania, 
where he received his education in the public 
schools. He went to Illinois in 1855 and re- 
turned to Pennsylvania in 1865 and later came 
to Nebraska, where he is engaged in farming. 
He is a member of the People's Independent 
party and is serving as Treasurer of Loup 
Coimtv. 



28-2 



semi-centennial history of nebraska 
Mcpherson county. 





MRS. FLORA FARROW 



L. C. RENEAU. 



McPherson is one of the newest counties, 
having been organized in 1890. It has an area 
of 1,584 square miles and a population of 517. 
Tryon is the county seat. Stock raising is the 
principal occupation, and in 1900 the county 
live stock was valued at $721,295. The soil is 
generally sandy, but the valleys in the east 
contain fertile land. Hay of excellent quality 
is found in the western valleys, and the hills 
and high lands offer good grazing for stock. 
Although a great part of the soil is unfit for 
cultivation, the county comprises 127 farms. 
About 2,000 acres are devoted to the growing 



of corn. There are eleven school districts and 
135 children of school age in this county. 

L. C. RENEAU was born April 26, 1865, in 
Pickett County, Tennessee. His father, B. J. 
Reneau, was a lumberman and farmer. Mr. 
Reneau came to Nebraska in 1886, taking a 
homestead. He has ranching interests in con- 
nection with his duties as County Clerk. He 
was ap]>ointe(l County Clerk in 1895 and has 
been five times elected to succeed himself. 

FLORA FARROW was born May 22, 1874, 
at Unity, New Hampshire, where she received 
her education in the common schools. Her 
father was a farmer. She came from New 
Hampshire to Nebraska and has been engaged 
in teaching. She is now the Superintendent of 
IVlcPherson County. 

GEORGE H. DALY was born in Gr<:at 
Britain in 1844. His father, Charles Daly, was 
a piano manufacturer. In 1880 he came from 
New York to Ohio and five years later settled 
in Nebraska. He received his education in the 
common and high schools. Mr. Daly is a 
member of the Republican party and is serving 
as Judge of McPherson County. In New York 
he was a member of the Board of Supervisors 
and also served as County Judge in Ohio. 



MADISON COUNTY. 



The first men to e.xplore this county were, 
presumably, Herman Braasch and Frederick 
Wagner, two Germans from Jefferson County, 
Wisconsin. Headed by Herman Braasch, 
twenty-four families settled at Norfolk on the 
17th day. of July, 18()G. The most noteworthy 
men of this settlement were Martin Graasch; 
Gottlieb Roeke, Charles Ninow, William Ruh- 
low and William Winter. The first really 
permanent settler was Capt. O. O. Austin, who 
settled on Shell Creek, in the southwestern 
part of the county. In 1876 Hon. Frank Welch 
of Norfolk was elected a member of Congress. 
Madison County was organized in 1868 and 
its present population is 16,976. Norfolk, the 
largest town, has a population of 3,883, while 
Madison, the county seat, has a population of 
1,479. There are 6,297 school children and 
seventy-eight school districts in the county. 
Seventy-eight of the school buildings are frame 
and eight brick. In twenty-four districts 



school is held nine months or more, while in 
fifty-three districts school is held from six to 
nine months. There are six graded schools, 
which are supplied with fifty-five teachers. 
Teachers' salaries have been greatly increased 
during the last five years. About one-half of 
the rural schools have added libraries within 
the last year. Highlands and valleys are of 
equal extent, covering 80 per cent of the 
county. Grasses are the principal natural re- 
source, and there are many springs conven- 
iently situated for the watering of stock. The 
live stock market, which amounted to $1,886,- 
347 in 1900, is largely composed of cattle and 
hogs. Hay land and the best farm land are 
equally valuable, selling at $40 to $50 an acre. 
There arc 1,703 farms, which comprise an acre- 
age of 360,679 acres. 
■^WTLLIAM r.ATES was born in Hereford- 
shire, England. March 4, 1848. In 1867 he 
came to the United States and remained in 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



383 




Si'll.WI.AXIi 



FKAXK A nri-KliSciN J. L. DANIELS 



J. J. CLEMENTS 



\Vn.LL\.M BATES. 




Madison County Court House 

Illinois until ISTo, when lie removed to Ne- 
braska. In 18T1 he located in Madison County, 
where he has since resided. In 1(S8.t he mar- 
ried Miss Mary R. Kest and they have five 
children. He is serving his fourth term as 
County Judge and is a member of the Demo- 
cratic party. He has held several offices prior 
to this, such as Village Treasurer and Clerk 
and Justice of the Peace of Battle Creek, Ne- 
braska. 

CHRISTOPHER SCHAVLAND was born 
in Stavanger, Norway, .August 27, ISGfi, a son 
of Ole Schavland, a shipowner and superin- 
tendent of a light-house station. In IRSfi he 
came to the I'nited States and located at New- 
man Crove, Nebraska, where he was a P)ank 
Cashier. He came to Madison in ISiXi where 
he has since resided. He was educated in the 
Latin School at Stavanger, Norway. Mr. 
Schavland was married to Miss Rolethe Thom- 
assen in 1,8,^8 and thcv have three children. He 



is affiliated with the Republican party and was 
Clerk of the District Court for eight years and 
is now serving his first term as Treasurer of 
Madison County. 

1:M1L winter was born in Norfolk, Ne- 
braska, May 2G, 1870. He removed with his 
l)arents to Watertown. Wisconsin, and re- 
turned to Madison. Nebraska, in 1894. He is a 
graduate of the Northwestern University of 
Watertown, Wisconsin. He was married to 
Miss Augusta Wynhoff of Tripoli, Iowa, in 
189."') and they have two daughters. He is affil- 
iated with the Democratic party and has been 
Deputy Postmaster, Cashier of the Madison 
State Bank and at present is the Clerk of Mad- 
ison Countv. His father came from Water- 
town, Wisconsin, and settled at what is now 
Norfolk, Nebraska, in ISGG, being one of the 
earliest settlers. 

C \V. CRUM was born at Independence, 
Iowa, October 11, 18(54, of Dutch parentage. 
He came to Antelope County, Nebraska, in 
1872. where his father took a homestead. In 
1881 he removed to Weeping Water, Nebraska, 
where he was the first student in the academy 
at that place. He attended this school for two 
years and later studied law. Then he engaged 
in the real estate business in Knox County, 
coming to Norfolk in 1892, where he lived until 
elected County Superintendent. He has also 
spent one year at Obcrlin College. At the age 
of eighteen he left home without any school- 
ing and acquired his education since. In 1890 
he was married to Miss Harriet Monroe and 
they have two children. He is now serving his 
fourth term as County Superintendent. 

J. J. CLEMENTS was born in Iowa County, 
Iowa, in 1857, where he received his education 
in the common schools. In 1889 he came to 
Norfolk, Nebraska, where he has since resided. 



284 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



He was City Councilman of Norfolk for one 
term and has been Chief of the Norfolk Fire 
Department. He is a Republican and is serv- 
ing his third term as Sheriff of Madison 
County. He was married to Miss Lucia Clap- 
per in 1888 and they have three children. 

W. H. LOWE was born September 3, 1839, 
in New York State, whence he went to Michi- 
gan when a small child. In 1848 he went to 
Illinois and in 18G9 came to Nebraska, settling 
in Madison County in 1871. From 18G2 to 
1870 he was an employe of the American Ex- 
press Company, He served eighteen months 
in the Civil War under an enlistment of three 
years, but was wounded at Shiloh, Tennessee, 
April 6, 1862, and discharged as disabled in 
August of that year. Mr. Lowe is the present 
County Surveyor of Madison County. 

J. L. DANIEL was born in Independence, 
Virginia, September 19, 1866, of Scotch-En- 
glish parentage. In 1886 he moved to Norfolk, 
where he resided until 1902, when he came to 
Madison, engaging in the mercantile business. 
He graduated from the Independence High 
School, Virginia, and studied at the Fremont 
and Wayne Normals of Nebraska. In 1886- he 
married Miss Theresa Hendricks, and they 



have two children. While in Norfolk he was 
Assistant Postmaster four years. He is a mem- 
ber of the Democratic party and has befen ap- 
pointed Deputy Clerk of Madison County. 

FRANK A. PETERSON was born in Madi- 
son County, Nebraska, November 7, 1879, and 
has spent all his life in this county. He re- 
ceived a common and high school education. 
In 1900 he was married to Miss Myrtle H. 
Sutherland and they have one son. He was a 
memebr of Company F of the First Nebraska 
\"olunteers, and served in the Philippines two 
years. He is a member of the Republican 
party and has been appointed Deputy County 
Treasurer. 

C. S. SMITH was born in Lehigh County, 
Pennsylvania, August 26, 1862. In 1876 he 
came to Madison County with his parents, his 
father having taken out a timber claim, and 
has lived there ever since. He received his ed- 
ucation in the public schools of Pennsylvania. 
In 1891 he married Miss Esther Axmann and 
has three children. He is in the real estate, 
loans and insurance business and is serving 
his second term as Mayor of Madison. He is 
identified with the Republican party. 



MERRICK COUNTY. 



The school system of Merrick County is es- 
pecially good. There are six graded schools, 
in which thirty-two teachers are employed. 
Twenty-five schools have a term of nine 
months or more, while twenty-six schools have 
a term of six to nine months' duration. There 
are sixty-one frame and three brick school 
buildings. School children comprise nearly 
one-third of the county population, which 
numbers 9,255. The first building in the county 
was erected by the Western Stage Company 
at Lone Tree Station, on the U. S. mail route 
between Omaha and Fort Kearney. This was 
the beginning of Central City, and was at first 
named Lone Tree from a single cottonwood 
growing there on the north bank of the Platte. 
In 1859 James Vieregg, a disappointed Cali- 
fornia gold seeker, made the first settlement 
in Merrick County. Jesse Shoemaker and 
Charles Eggerton were next in order. These 
two men set up a ranch at the Lone Tree Sta- 
tion for the entertainment of travelers. The 
first family that settled in the county was that 



of Jason Parker. They located a little south- 
east of Central City in 1860. In 1864 fear of 
the Indians drove away all but two of the in- 
habitants, but the deserters gradually returned 
to their homes. The surface is mostly fertile 
valley land, made up of dark, sandy soil. Cher- 
ries, plums, grapes and all small fruits are 
profitably cultivated. Cattle, hogs and sheep 
are exported, and the value of live stock in 
1900 was $2,075,290. A great feeding plant 
is operated at Central City, said to be the 
largest in the world. There are 424 acres of 
sugar beets under cultivation. Farm land 
brings from $45 to $60, the highest prices paid 
for land. The absence of swamp land and 
the elevation of 1,700 feet make the climate 
\ery healthful. 

C. F. NEWMYER is serving his second 
term as County Clerk. He was born in West- 
moreland County, Pennsylvania, in November, 
1856, and came to Merrick County, Nebraska, 
in 1875. His father, George W. Newmyer, en- 
listed in Company B, Twenty-eighth Pennsyl- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



285 







D. K. NEWMYER. 



\l. TOOLE Y. 



J. D. HOLLISTER. 



C. F. NEWMYER. 





M. G. SCUDDER. 



SPRACJUB. 




Merrick County Court House 

vania Volunteers, and was mustered out as 
captain of his company. He became a mem- 
ber of the Nebraska State Legislature in 1S85. 
C. F. Newmyer attended the Western Penn- 
sylvania Classical and Scientific Institute. In 
April of 1884 he married Lydia Keister. 

F. K. SPRAGUE was born in California, 
Decemebr 18, 1862. Mr. Sprague, with his 





WILLIAM H. C. RICE S. D. AYERS. 

parents, was among the very early settlers of 
the county, having located at Silver Creek in 
isr2. He is a blacksmith and wagonmaker by 
trade, although he is now in his second term 
as County Treasurer. lie has been School Di- 
rector, Treasurer of the Township and County 
Commissioner at different times. His wife 
was Miss Olive Graves, to whom he was mar- 
ried in October of 1887. In politics he is a 
Republican. 

M. G. SCUDDER is Clerk of the District 
' ourt, serving his first term. He was born in 
Merrick County, Nebraska, July 22, 1873. His 
father, Albert Scuddcr, served four and one- 
half years in the Civil War, being enlisted in 
Company C of the Seventh Illinois Cavalry, 
h'ourleen months of his service was spent in 
Southern prisons. Upon coming to Nebraska 
in 1872, his father took a homestead, which he 
still owns. On December 31, 1896, Mr. Scud- 
der married Miss Mamie Baird of Central City. 

J. D. HOLLISTER came to Merrick 
County in 1882, and has since made this his 
home. His father was a veteran of the Mexi- 
can and Civil Wars, having served over three 
years in the latter. Mr. Hollister was born in 
Boone County, Indiana, September 17, 1858. 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



He is a stock dealer and is now County Sheriff. 
Formerly he was County Supervisor during 
four years. He is a Republican in politics. In 
1880 'he was married to Miss Louise McKin- 

ney. 

FRED A. MARSH was born November 21, 
1871, in Central City, where he has always 
lived. His parents are William E. and Mary 
L. Marsh, and his father was among the first 
settlers of the county. He studied at the Ne- 
braska Central College at Central City and the 
Fremont Normal, from which he was gradu- 
ated in 1892. He served two terms as County 
Superintendent, beginning with 1894. Again 
in 1903 he was elected to the same office, and 
is now serving his third term. He married Ivy 
Crites in 1893. 

F. J. KOMBRINK is serving his third term 
as County Coroner. Central City is both his 
present reisdence and his birthplace, and the 
date is November 10. 187-1. His father was one 
of the first settlers in the county, coming here 
in 1869 as foreman of the Union Pacific Rail- 
road. At that time a box car served as a 
depot. He was graduated from the Central 
City High Schoof in 1892. He is a furniture 
dealer and a member of the Democratic party. 

D. K. NEWMYER was born in Merrick 
Countv, Nebraska, March 4, 1885. His father 
is one' of the old settlers of this county, hav- 
ing come here in 1875, and at present is County 
Clerk. He attended the public schools of Cen- 
tral City. His vocation is that of a news agent, 
though he is now serving as Deputy County 
Clerk. His politics are Republican. 

WILLIAM H. C. RICE is a lawyer at Cen- 
tral City, Nebraska. He was born January 27. 
184G, near Hillsdale, Michigan, from which 
place he came to Merrick County in 1871. In 
1868 he was graduated from the Law School 
at Ann Arbor. He homesteaded in the county 
when he first came to Nebraska and still owns 
the place. Beginning with 1892, he held the 
office of County Judge for two terms. He was 



County Clerk from 1884 to 1888, and County 
Treasurer in 1888 and 1889. He is affiliated 
with the Republican party, and March 8, 1876, 
was married to Margaret Dohertv. 

H. W. R. KOMBRINK was 'born in Ger- 
many October 27, 1842, and came to the United 
States in 1858, where he first located in St. 
Louis. After living for a time in IMuscatine, 
Iowa, he came to Nebraska in 1867 and took 
a homestead, which he still holds. At this 
time there was but one house in Central City 
and Indians were numerous. By trade he is 
a cabinetmaker, and is now in the furniture 
business. He organized a band in Central City 
and kept it together for twenty-five years. He 
is affiliated with the Democratic party. In 
1866 he married Mary Lamb of Aluscatine. 
Iowa. 

S. D. AYERS is in the lumber and coal busi- 
ness at Central Citv, Nebraska. He was born 
October 30, 1860, in Fulton County, Ohio, from 
which state he came to Merrick County, Ne- 
braska, in 1881. He commenced teaching in 
Ohio at sixteen years of age, conducting school 
in the winter and working on the farm sum- 
mers. He learned the lumber business while 
employed in yards at Lexington and Omaha 
and was also in the business at Ord, Nebraska, 
until 1897, when he came to Central City. He 
married Miss Nancy Bronnan of Merrick 
County April 7, 1881. He is Republican in 
politics. 

R. TOOLEY is the present Mavor of Cen- 
tral City. He has served as Chairman of the 
County Board of Supervisors one term and is 
independent of political parties. His birth- 
place is Pennsylvania, born July 29, 18G2. He 
moved with his parents to West Virginia in 
1871 and in 1880 came to Nebraska, where he 
has since lived at Central City. He has been 
engaged in the drug business at that place for 
seventeen years. In 1895 occurred his mar- 
riage to Miss Anna J. Smith, and they have 
one son and two daughters. 



NANCE COUNTY. 



Nance County is especially suited to agri- 
cultural and live stock pursuits. A rich dark 
soil, with an under strata of clay, covers 93 
per cent of the surface, the remaining 7 per 
cent being made up of a sandy strip in the 
-dn ST XiunoD aip jo sqijy-Jno j 'U^d ujaipnos 



land, while the rest comprises the valley land 
of the Loup, Cedar and Beaver Rivers, besides 
numerous creeks. Thirty-two miles of the 
Loup Valle3% which varies in width from one 
to three miles, are included within the county 
limits. Elm, ash, poplar and cottonwood trees 



COUXTY HISTORY, 



287 





J. JI. KEMP 



^, 



W. F. PRO\VETT. D. A. VVII.I.AIU). A. B. CURRIER. E. E. COPPLE. E. W. SMITH. 



i 






..,,1 


1 ■ ^ - '*t^' 






\V. H. DAVIS. 



Nance Couuty Cciirt House 







J H. STEPHENSON. OEORGE D. MEIKELJOHN. G. F. ROBINSON. . D. STEPHENSON. 



288 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



make up the principal part of the valley tim- 
ber land. The best farm land sells from $35 
to $50 per acre. Nine thousand four hundred 
and seventy-eight acres are employed in the 
raising of wheat, 18,649 acres in oats, and 74,- 
751 acres in corn, which is the principal crop. 
The county makes a specialty of breeding 
horses and cattle, the export of the latter be- 
ing among the best in the state. The total 
amount of live stock is valued at $2,969,292. 
In 1881 there were twelve school districts and 
five school buildings, with an attendance of 447 
school children. At present there are sixty- 
three districts, sixty-four schoolhouses and 
2,824 school children. About one hundred 
families of Mormons from the vicinity of St. 
Louis made the first settlement, in 1857. They 
made a great many improvements and pros- 
pered until the Pawnees came in 1860 to claim 
this county as a reservation. After three years 
of copartnership with the Indians, they finally 
gave up their lands, most of them emigrating 
to Utah. The Indians were masters here until 
in 1875 by treaty they removed to Indian Ter- 
ritory. Among the earliest settlers were Rob- 
ert Compton, W. A. Davis and Mr. Derrick. 
Mrs. H. H. Knight was the first white woman 
settler. The government land began to be 
offered for sale in 1878, and there was a great 
rush of immigration in 1879, which resulted 
in county organization. The name was given 
in honor of Governor Albinus Nance, then act- 
ing Governor of the State. Fullerton, the 
county seat, has a population of 1,464. There 
are 33.94 miles of railway and 33.80 miles of 
telegraph. 

G. F. ROBINSON was born at Valparaiso. 
Indiana, removed with his parents to Gage 
County, Nebraska in 1878 and later to Nance 
County, settling in Fullerton in 1898. He 
taught school for several years in Gage Coun- 
ty, read law in the office of J. E. Bush of Bea- 
trice and was admitted to the bar before the 
Supreme Court of Nebraska in 1897. In 1893 
he married Miss Bertha Bush of Beatrice and 
they have two children. Mr. Robinson was a 
District Court Reporter one term and has been 
elected County Judge on the Republican ticket. 

A. B. CURRIER was born in Greenlake, 
Wisconsin, December 1, 1877, and came to 
Nance County in 1883. He attended the Lin- 
coln High School one year and is a graduate 
of the Commercial and Shorthand Courses of 
the Fremont Normal College. He was a mem- 
ber of Company I, First Nebraska Volunteers, 



in the Philippine campaign. He was appointed 
shipping clerk and remained in Manila when 
the regiment came home, but was obliged to 
resign on account of sickness. He was elected 
Clerk of the District Court on the Republican 
ticket. 

W. F. PROWETT, son of John Prowett, 
fieet engineer of the British navy, was born in 
Portsmouth, England, March 24, 1860. In 
1880 he came to Nance County, Nebraska, and 
in 1882 married Miss Carrie Beagle, who died 
in 1896, and in 1900 he married Miss May Ed- 
wards. He is a member of the Republican 
party and is ser\'ing his second term as County 
Treasurer. 

J. H. KEMP was born in Page County, Vir- 
ginia, October 6, 1872. In April, 1895, he went 
to Basic City, Virginia, and in October of the 
next year he entered the Law Department of 
the University of Nebraska and graduated 
from it in 1898. That same year he began the 
practice of law at Fullerton, Nebraska. Twice 
he has been Chairman of the Republican Cen- 
tral County Committee and served one term 
as State Committeeman from the Eighteenth 
district. He has been City Attorney of Fuller- 
ton and is now County Attorney, nominated 
for a second term. 

D. STEPHENSON was born in Hunting- 
ton, Indiana, March 31, 1850. In 1884 he came 
to Nebraska, engaging in farming in Nance 
County. In 1872 he married Miss Leah Bruss, 
and they have three sons. He is a member of 
the Republican party and has held several of- 
fices, having been Supervisor of Nance County 
in 1888, Census Enumerator in 1900 and is now 
serving his second term as County Clerk. 

W. H. DAVIS was born in Noble County, 
Ohio, February 9, 1851. About 1867 he re- 
moved to Missouri and in 1872 came to Mer- 
rick County, Nebraska. He settled in Nance 
County about 1881, where he has been a nur- 
seryman. He received his education in the 
Missouri and Ohio public schools. Mr. Davis 
is a member of the Republican party and has 
served as Town Councilman and has twice 
been elected Sheriflf of Nance County. 

E. W. SMITH was born in Kossuth, Iowa, 
October 18. 1876, removed to Hastings in 1879 
and came to Fullerton in 1883. He attended 
the Fullerton High School, Fremont Normal 
College, LTniversity of Nebraska for three 
years, and took two summers' work in the 
York College. He was Principal of Schools 
at Belgrade four and one-half vears. In 1903 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



389 





W. L. KOSE. 



M. J. FLAHERTY. 



he married -Miss Hattie La Grange. Mr. Smith 
served in Company C, First Nebraska Volun- 
teers, in the 'Philippine campaign as a member 
of the regimental band. He was elected 
County Superintendent on the Republican 
ticket and is now serving his second term. 

M. J. FLAHERTY was born in Maiden, Ill- 
inois, November 18, 1870. He removed to 
Peru, Illinois, with his parents about 187G, and 
in 1885 settled in Nance County, Nebraska, 
where he has since made his home. He re- 
ceived his education in the Illinois public 
schools. He is a member of the Republican 
party and is Assessor of Nance County. 

J. R. STEPHENSON was born in Wabash 
County, Indiana, January 21, 1879. In 188-1 he 
removed to Nebraska with his parents, where 
he has since remained. He attended the Ful 
lerton High School and the Fremont Normal. 
since when he has taught in Nance County. 
He is a member of the Republican party and 
has been appointed Deputy County Clerk. 

W. L. ROSE was born in St. Lawrence 
County, New York, May 15, 1864, came to 
Merrick County in 1872, where he received 
his education and studied law in Genoa and 
Clarks, Nebraska. In 1891 he went to Cedar 
County and in 1898 settled in Fullerton, after 
having practiced law two years at Genoa. In 
1899 he married Miss Edith Ridell and has one 
son. He is a member of the Populist party 
and has been County Attorney for Nance 
County two terms and City Attorney of Ful- 
lerton. 

E. E. COPPLE was born in Centralia, Illi- 
nois, April 19, 1874. In 1885 he came to Ful- 
lerton, Nebraska. He attended school at the 
Lincoln Normal, receiving the degree of B. S. 



and received the degree of D. D. S. at North- 
western University of Chicago. He began 

practicing dentistry in Fullerton in 1900 and 
ill 19U1 married Miss Bertha Storch. He is a 
member of the Republican party and was 
elected Mayor of Fullerton on the anti-saloon 
ticket. 

D. A. WILLARD was born in Winchester, 
New Hampshire, August 10, 1840. After liv- 
ing in Wisconsin, Michigan, Chicago and 
Omaha, he came to Columbus, Nebraska, in 
ISGG. He was the first man to ship a carload 
of freight into Columbus, where he was en- 
gaged in the mercantile business, and his house 
at one time carried a stock worth $50,000.00. 
In 1867 he established a trading post at the 
present site of Genoa. When land came into 
market he bought three sections, laying out 
Genoa on one of them. In 1880 he married 
Miss Lottie Anderson of Genoa. Mr. Willard 
is one of the pioneers of Nance County and 
has held various township positions. He is 
now Chairman of the town board of Genoa. 

GEORGE D. MEIKLEJOHN, a lawyer, 
was born at Weyauwega, Waupaca County, 
Wisconsin, August 22, 1857. He was reared 
on a farm and educated at the State Normal, 
Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and Michigan University, 
Ann Arbor, Michigan ; was principal of the 
High School at Weyauwega, Wisconsin and 
Liscomb, Iowa ; graduated from the law de- 
partment, Michigan University, in 1880; lo 
cated at Fullerton, Nance County, Nebraska, 
in 1880, where he has since been engaged in 
the practice of law ; was County Attorney for 
Nance County three years; elected lo the Sen- 
ate of the Nebraska Legislature in 1884 and 
re-elected in 1886 ; was President of the Senate 
during his second term ; was chairman of the 
Republican State Convention in 1887; was 
elected Lieutenant Governor of Nebraska in 
1«S8, and by virtue of that office was presiding 
officer of the famous Joint Convention of the 
Legislature of Nebraska, in 1891, to canvass 
the State election returns of 1890; he de- 
clined a renomination for Lieutenant Governor 
was elected to the Fifty-third and Fifty-fourth 
Congresses from the Third Congressional Dis- 
trict of Nebraska; he declined renomination 
for Congress and was appointed Assistant Sec- 
retary of War, April 16, 1897; he tendered his 
resignation as Assistant Secretary of War, in 
March, 1901. 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




WM. H. KELLIGAR 



I. H. KUPER. 



BENJAMIN PARKER. GEO. D. CARRINGTON. CHARLES A. FROST 





ABE L. LAWRENCE. 



J. H. DUNDAS. 



Nemaha County Court House 



NEMAHA COUNTY. 



The members of the Lewis and Clark Expe- 
dition are the first wliite visitors on record in 
Nemaha County. In a narration of his travels, 
written in 1804, Captain Lewis describes this 
region. The land belonged to the Indians un- 
til 1854. The first town site was platted by a 
half-breed Indian, named Deroin, in 1853, and 
the town was called St. Deroin. Robert Hawke 
opened up a store here. Richard Brown^ a na- 
tive of Tennessee, was the next white inhab- 
itant. He settled on the present site of Brown- 
ville, which was named in his honor. In 1859 
the land was offered for sale by the govern- 
ment, and speculators swarmed into the 
county. The years of 1857-8-9 were known as 
"hard times." The summer of 1858 was very 
wet, resulting in much sickness. The season 
of 1860 was very dry and only half a crop was 
reaped by the poverty-stricken farmers. Much 
of the time wheat brought only 20 cents per 



l)ushel, while farmers were paying 40 per cent 
interest on money borrowed to secure their 
lands. After paying this enormous interest for 
several years many were forced to yield their 
property to the speculators. Long before the 
lands were opened up there was a rush of im- 
niie;rants. In 1856, during a single week, fifty 



families of homeseekers 
claims in this county 



stopped to take up 
mong the early set- 
settlers were Rev. Joel M. Wood, Jesse Cole, 
N. Kelley, Henry Emerson, T. B. Edwards and 
wife and Faulbird Edwards. Mrs. T. B. Ed- 
wards was the first white woman to live in the 
county. In 1861 bands of men known as "jay- 
hawkers" gave the settlers a great deal of an- 
noyance. Their avowed purpose was to punish 
rebels, but in reality they were robbers, and 
their pretended sense of loyalty protected them 
in all sorts of thefts. On June 8, 1861, Com- 
pany C, of the First Nebraska Volunteer In- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



391 



laiiiiy, was organized. There were several 
local organizations known as Home Guards 
In 1862 three cavalry companies were formed 
in the county for the Second Nebraska Regi- 
ment. The first flatboat ferry in Nemaha 
County was started in 1855 by Richard Brown, 
and in 1857 the first steam ferry boat was put 
in operation. 

In 1881 the number of improved acres of 
land was 141,108. In 1900 that number had in- 
creased to 214,686 acres. Nemaha County was 
organized in 1855. At that time the population 
was 604; it now numbers 14,952. Auburn, tlie 
county seat, is populated by 2,664 people. The 
supply of water and rich, rolling prairie make 
this a great agricultural and stock raising sec- 
tion. Land is very high. Pasture land sells 
at prices ranging from $o0.0U to $50.00 an acre, 
and the best farm land brings from $60 to $80 
per acre. The cultivation of fruit is very suc- 
cessful, and Nemaha ranks first in the state in 
its peaches. The county is divided into eighty- 
one school districts, supplied with eighty-three 
buildings, twelve of which are brick and two 
stone. Thirty districts have school during 
nine or more months, and only one school has 
a term of less than six months. 

G. B. BEVERIDGE was born in Palmyra, 
Missouri, April 23, 1838. In 1883 he came to 
Auburn, Nebraska, where he has since prac- 
ticed law. He was a soldier all through the 
Civil W'ar and knows the hardships of active 
service. During his residence in Delaware 
County, Iowa, he held the oftice of Clerk of the 
District Court and later of Sheriff. He is af- 
filiated with the Republican party and is Clerk 
of the District Court in Nemaha County. 

D. J. A. DIRKS was born in Germany July 
16, 1866. During the first years of his resi- 
dence in America he lived in Missouri, but in 
1877 he came to Nebraska, receiving a common 
school education and later was employed as 
a dry goods clerk, lie is a member of the Re- 
publican party and has been elected County 
Treasurer. 

GEORGE D. CARRINGTON was born in 
Brownville, Nebraska, April 5, 1879, and has 
lived in Nemaha County all his life. He re 
ceived his education in tlie .\uburn High 
School, Fremont Normal and Peru State Nor- 
mal. He is affiliated with the Ro])ublican party 
and has been elected Comity .'superintendent. 
His vocation is that of teaching. 

CHARLES R. HACKER was born in Ne- 
maha County, Nebraska, August 29, 1866. He 



received a common school education and in 
1903 was married to Miss Elsie Hacker. He 
is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is 
affiliated with the Republican party. He has 
been County Surveyor two years. City Clerk 
two years and at present holds the office oj 
County Clerk. 

ABE L. LAURENCE was born ni Brown- 
ville, Nemaha County, December 25, 1863, and 
has lived in this county ever since. He gradu- 
ated from the Brownville High School and en- 
gaged in farming. In 1885 he married Miss 
Kate Agnes Penney and has six children. He 
has been twice elected County Sheriflf on the 
Republican ticket. 

JOHN S. McCARTV was born in Mason, 
Illinois, June 10, 1868. His parents were both 
born in Kentucky, their ancestry dating back 
to the earliest settlers. He came to Nemaha 
County, Nebraska, in 1878 and received his 
education in the high schools and the Nebraska 
State Normal at Peru. By profession he is an 
attorney at law and is now serving as Judge 
of Nemaha County. He is a member of the 
Democratic party and has been a member of 
the State Central Committee. 

BENJAMIN PARKER was born in Bour- 
bon County, Kentucky, February 28, 1858. He 
is of Scotch-Irish parentage, his mother having 
come over from Scotland at the age of sixteen. 
In 1885 he was married to Minnie E. Berge. 
They have six children and live at .\uburn, 
Nebraska. By occupation he is a merchant 
salesman and has also been employed as civil 
engineer. He moved to Iowa in 1861, to Mis- 
souri in 1862 and to Nebraska in 1879. He is 
serving his second term as County Surveyor 
and is a Republican in politics. 

C. A. LUTCiEN is of German descent, al- 
lliough his people were born in America. He 
was born November 7, 1873, in Athens County, 
Ohio. He obtained his advanced schooling at 
Kansas University, Lincoln Medical College 
and the Chicago Homeopathic School. He is 
now a practicing physician of Auburn, Ne- 
braska, and is holding the office of Coroner for 
the second term. From Ohio he went to Kan- 
sas in 1885 and came to Nebraska in 1901. Two 
years after coming to the state he married 
Myrtle Combs of Johnson County. He is a 
member of the Republican partv 

ILERT H. KITPER was born in Humboldt. 
Nebraska, December 23, 1866, of German par- 
entage. He received a common school educa- 
tion and engaged in farming and teaching. 



• 292 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



In 1902 he married Miss Rena M. Tjaden of 
Humboldt, Nebraska. He is a member of 
the Republican party and is now serving as 
Deputy County Treasurer. 

CHARLES A. FROST was born in Wood- 
ford County, Illinois, June 19, 186(5. In 1870 
he came to Jefferson County, Nebraska, with 
his parents, engaging in farmmg. He received 
a common school education. In 1897 he set- 
tled in Nemaha County, following his profes- 
sion of engineer. He is a member of the Re- 
publican party and is Chief of Police in Au- 
burn. In 1891 he married Miss Nellie Gipple. 

WILLIAM H. KELLIGAR is a practicmg 
lawyer at Auburn, Nebraska. He was born at 
Summerville, New Jersey, on the 2d of March. 
1854. From New Jersey he removed to Deca 
tur, Illinois, in the year 185G. His mother died 
in 1867 and his father is living in Illinois. He 
is a Democrat in politics and during 1891 and 



1892 he was County Attorney. In 1903 he was 
elected to the position of District Judge. He 
was married at St. Louis December 2, 1883, to 
Mary A. Finn and they have eight children. 

J. H. DUNDAS is a native of Aurora, Illi- 
nois, born October 14, 1845. His parents were 
James and Mary Dundas and his father was 
born in Ireland. He is the editor and publisher 
of the Auburn Granger and is also author of a 
book, "Every Man's Account Book." Before 
the city of Auburn was built he farmed and 
herded cattle on the present town site. He 
attended school at Peru Normal and in 1871 
was married to Miss Wealthy Bishop. He has 
two sons and two daughters. He has been As- 
sessor three times. Justice of the Peace, and in 
1897 and 1898 was State Senator from the Sec- 
ond district. Mr. Dundas is independent in 
his political views. 



NUCKOLLS COUNTY. 



The county is furnished with as good a water 
supply as any Nebraska county. There are 
the Republican and Little Blue Rivers, besides 
many small streams. A large amount of na- 
tive timber is found along the Little Blue. The 
soil, which is black and sandy, with a layer of 
clay, is nearly all capable of cultivation. Win- 
ter wheat and corn cover an almost equal acre- 
age, 70,354 acres being devoted to wheat and 
82,501 acres to corn. There is a great deal of 
natural grass, and alfalfa is widely grown. 
The surface is made up of rolling, fertile up- 
land and valleys. There are 1,773 farms, and 
both farm and ranch land is in good demand. 
Since 1897 land has become 35 per cent more 
valuable. The best farm land is selling for $30 
to $45 an acre. In 1900 1,185,671 bushels of 
corn were marketed. In 1882 the county con- 
tained 44,357 acres of improved land, while the 
acreage of improved land at present is 275,325 
The county was organized in 1871. Its popu- 
lation in 1880 was 4,334. The population of 
today is 12,414. The people are engaged in 
farming, stock raising, dairying and fruit cul- 
ture. Four years ago the estimated value of 
live stock was $2,000,027. Nuckolls County 
has seven graded schools, in which thirty-fivo 
teachers are employed. There are ninety-three 
school buildings, including one stone and five 
brick structures. With the exception of 



Thayer, Nuckolls had more terrible Indian ex- 
periences than any ©ther pioneer county. Set- 
tlements were attempted in 1858, but the sav- 
ages, jealous of intrusion, either murdered or 
routed all homeseekers. B. S. Comstock, who 
came in 1858, was the oldest inhabitant. In 
1861 he bought Oak Grove and settled there on 
the Little Blue with his family of seven chil- 
dren. This family became heroes in the In- 
dian War, and the stockade at Oak Grove was 
the only settlement which was strong enough 
to resist the red slaughterers. In 1867 the 
county was entirely depopulated on account 
of fear of the Indians. 

EDGAR D. BROWN was born in Kala- 
mazoo County, Michigan, September 1, 1844. 
In 1864 he removed to Illinois, in 1878 to Kan- 
sas, and in 1882 to Nebraska. He was edu- 
cated at Hillsdale College, Michigan, and was 
Second Sergeant of Company L, Fifth Michi- 
gan Cavalry, in the Civil War. Mr. Brown is 
a member of the Reptiblican party and has been 
elected County Attorney. 

W. T. BOTTENFIELD was born in Mon- 
roe County, Ohio, February 21, 1850. In 1883 
he came to Nebraska, entering the mercantile 
business. Later he became the publisher of n 
newspaper and a school teacher. He received 
his education in the Ohio State Normal School 
and was elected to serve a third term as County 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



293 




w w II \ w 1 i;-i 






P: 




'T 

ki ^ . ^ 


■fir /^ . 


;^ . ii 




^«Airi 








KIiGAR D. BROWN. 



O. \V. MREYNOLDS. 



1892. He obtained a common school educa- 
tion and was united in marriage to Miss Cora 
Hosking of Galena, Illinois, in 1887. Mr. Jack- 
son was elected to the office of County Clerk 
as a representative of the Fusionists in his 
county. 

J. W. HODGES was born at Clinton, Illi- 
nois, in 1872, where he lived until 1893, when 
he removed to Nebraska to engage in farming 
and stock raising. He was married to Miss 
Mollie Armstrong in 1894, and again to Miss 
Hester Galey in 1904. He is affiliated with the 
Republican party and has been elected Sheriff 
of Nuckolls County. 

M. W. CARTER was born in Wabash 
County, Indiana, July 13, 1858. In 1878 he 
came to Nebraska, engaging at first in farming 
and stock raising with his father, and later 
in the mercantile business. He was a member 
of the First Nebraska National Guard for throe 
years. He married Miss Susan LaBounty of 
Illinois. His education was obtained in the 
common schools and he has been elected Clerk 
of the District Court on the Republican ticket. 

C. C. DUDLEY was born in Ruskin, Ne- 
braska, October 5, 1876. His father was one 



Nuckolls County Court House 

Superintendent of Nuckolls County. In 1878 
lie married Miss Jessie Bertholf. and they have 
eight children. 

GEORGE JACKSON was born in Daviess 
County, Illinois, removed to Gage County, Ne- 
l)raska, in 1885, settling in Nuckolls County in 




W. HODGES. 



of the earliest settlers of the county, and his 
mother's family had been burned out by the 
Indians on the Little Blue River near what is 
now Oak, Nebraska. He received a common 
school education and is affiliated with the 
Democratic party. He has been elected County 
Treasurer. 

J. T. DYSART was born in Antioch. Ohio. 
April 23, 1875. In 1879 he removed with his 
parents to Nuckolls County, Nebraska. He 
graduated from the University of Nebraska 
Law School in 1901 and is now serving his 
second term as County Judge. He is a mem- 
ber of the Republican party. 

A. W. McREYNOLDS was born in Martin 
County, Indiana, July 16, 1854. When a child 
he removed with his parents to Iowa and came 
to Nebraska in 1878, settling in Nuckolls 
County. He was educated in the public 
schools of Iowa and at present is engaged in 
the drug business. In 1900 he was married 
to Miss Nellie Sheets and they have two chil- 
dren. With the exception of about five years 
Mr. McReynolds has been Surveyor of Nuck- 
olls since coming to the state. He is a member 
of the Republican party. 



294 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



W. W. HAWLEY, Mayor of Nelson, Ne- 
braska, and station agent for the B. & M. R. R. 
Company, was born in Rock County, Wiscon- 
sin, January 27, 1864. His father was an En- 
gHshman and his mother was born in New 
York, of German parentage. He came to Ne- 



braska in 1867 and has lived in the State ever 
since, having resided in Nemaha, Clay, John- 
son, Otoe, Gage and Nuckolls counties. He 
attended the high school at Brownville and 
also at Sutton, Nebraska, and has followed 
railroading. 



OTOE COUNTY. 



Otoe County was organized in 1855, one 
year after Nebraska became a State. Ne- 
braska City, the county seat, has 7,380 inhab- 
itants about one-third of the entire county 
population. This is a fertile rolling prairie, 
relieved by the valleys of the Missouri and 
Nemaha Rivers and Wolf, Muddy and other 
creeks. The blufifs along the Missouri are 
very well adapted to the cultivation of fruit, 
and' the countv holds first place in the number 
of fruit trees. ' Land is 35 per cent more valu- 
able than it was five years ago, and the de- 
mand is greater than the supply. The price of 
the best farm land is from $60 to $75 per acre. 
Fair tillable land sells at $45 to $55 an acre: 
hay land is worth from $40 to $45, and pasture 
land is sold at prices ranging from $35 to $4T), 
There are 148.267 acres of corn, and in 1900 
6,268,696 bushels were shipped to market, to- 
gether with 48,370 hogs. There are five flour 
and grist mills and three brickyards in the 
county. Before 1844 Otoe Countv was en- 
tirely occupied bv Pawnees, Otoes and 
Omahas. In 1846 Companv G, Second U. S. 
Dragoons, established a military post where 
Nebraska City now stands. The blockhouse 
stood near the middle of Fifth, between Main 
and Otoe Streets, and the ofTRcers' quarters 
were a log house near the Seymour House. 
The first permanent inhabitant was John B. 
Boulware, who conducted a ferrv at the foot 
of Commercial Street. The winter of 1856 was 
verv severe, and manv lives were lost because 
of insufficient shelter and food. Even the wild 
animals were starved, and it is said that deer 
ran throueh the Ncbrnska Citv streets nursued 
bv packs of wolves. The droueht of 1859 and 
the flood of 1881 were other hindrances to the 
nroeress of the countv. In 1873 Hon. J. Ster- 
linsr Morton succeeded in havine Arbor Dav 
e'stahlished. The school svstem is verv good. 
The countv is divided into 102 districts and 
school propertv amounts to $197,789,88, There 
are nine graded schools, in which sixty-four 
teachers are employed. The children of school 



age number 7,234. No school has a term of 
less than six months. 

E. H. FINIGAN was born in Otoe County, 
Nebraska, on the 10th of September in the 
year 1880, and has been a resident of the state 
ever since, his present home being at Nebraska 
City. His father and mother, L. D. and M. E. 
Finigan, came from Illinois and New York, re- 
spectively. For five years he held the position 
of Cashier of a bank at Unadilla, Nebraska 
In September of 1903 he was married to Gol- 
dine Dunn. He is a Democrat and is serving 
his first term as Clerk of the District Court, 
With one exception he is the youngest county 
officer in Nebraska, being only twenty-three 
years old at the time of his election. 

C. E. SHRADER is a lumber and grain 
dealer of Nebraska City and is in his second 
term of office as Sheriff of Otoe County. He 
received his education in the public schools 
and is Republican in politics. He was bom in 
this county March 17. 1876, and has always re- 
mained a resident. His parents are Germans, 
his father having come direct from the old 
country, and they are farmers by occupation. 
He was married October 6, 1897, and has two 
children, 

R. C. KING was born May 13. 1879, at Lin- 
coln, Illinois. He has lived in Nebraska since 
1892 and his home is at Nebraska City. On 
.\pril 30, 1902, he was married to Clara Ander- 
son, Thev have one child. He obtained his 
education in the common schools of Illinois 
and later at Valparaiso. He has been engaged 
in school work and is at present serving lys 
second term as County Superintendent. His 
politics are Republican. 

M. C. JOYCE is of Irish parentage, his peo- 
ple having emigrated from the old country in 
1845. He was born in Middlesex County, 
Massachusetts, July 29, 1851. He is in the 
harness and saddlery business at Syracuse, Ne- 
braska. His father was a blanket manufac- 
turer, and was making blankets for the Union 
soldiers at the time of his death. His marriage 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



29S 





M. C. JOYCE. E. H. FIXIGAN. C. H. KRESSEN. THEO WRBERING. CIIAS. H. BUSCH. 




Otoe County Court House 



to Hattie A. Russell occurred in 1882, and they 
have three children. After a residence of four 
vears in Iowa he came to Nebraska in 1880. 
lie is scrsine: his third term as County Judge, 
being a Republican in politics. 

R. W. KELLY is a school teacher and book- 
keeper by profession, but at present is serving 
his second term as County Treasurer. He is 
a member of the Rc]>ublican party. Mr. Kellv 
was born on the Isle of Man, August 9, 1870. 
.\ftcr the death of his mother his father came 
to America in 1888 and settled in Otoe in 1889. 
He obtained the Queen's Certificate, which 
authorized him to teach in any part of Great 
Britain. In December of 1894 he wa.s married 
to Maggie Koontz. They reside at Nebraska 



City, and have three daughters. Mr. Kelly has 
served as Treasurer of the Nebraska Epworth 
Assembly. 

ARTHUR A. BISCHOF was born on the 
nth of January in 1874. He is a practicing 
lawyer of Nebraska City, which was the place 
of his birth. His parents were born in Ger- 
many. His father is a merchant and his 
mother is deceased. He obtained his education 
at the ITnivcrsity of Nebraska, where he took 
his A. B. degree in 1898 and LL. E. in 1900. 
He is at present County Attorney and was 
elected on the Republican ticket. 

CHARLES H. BUSCH was born in the 
Province of Hanover, Germany, on December 
30, 1867, and came to Otoe County in 1881. 



296 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Front Row. Left to Risrht.— R. C. KING, Superintendent; C. E. SHRADEK. Sheriff; JOHN FRERICHS, Commissioner: Wm. 

HAYVVARD. Judge. 1901. 
Back Row. Left to Kight -C. C BRAVT, Recoriier; F. M. COOK, Deputy Treasurer: CARE BF.DEEL, Surveyor, 1901 ; C. N. 

KARSTENS, Coroner: K. W. KELLY, Treasurer. 



In 1885 entered the mercantile business and in 
1887 took a course in the Lincoln Business 
College. He was united in marriage to Minnie 
A. Stutt in 1888 and in 1889, with his brother, 
formed the firm of Busch Bros., merchants. 
Mr. Busch was appointed postmaster in ]894 
and in 1899 was appointed Deputy County 
Clerk. In the spring of 1903 he was appointed 
County Clerk to fill a vacancy, and in Novem- 
ber was elected County. Clerk on the Demo- 
cratic ticket. 

C. N. KARSTENS is an old soldier, having 
served over three years in the First Nebraska 
Regiment during the Rebellion. After the war 
he was married to Miss Katherine Weiss in 
1870. They have seven children and, in addi- 
tion, have brought up four orphans His pres- 
ent residence is Nebraska City. He was born 
in Prussia on the 3d of March, 1834. His par- 
ents came to the United States in 1857 and 
have lived in Nebraska City ever since. He is 
engaged in the furniture and undertaking busi- 
ness and has been Coroner since 1890. Mr. 
Karstens is a member of the Republican party 

JOHN FRERICKS is Chairman of the Otoe 
Board of County Commissioners, and is Re- 
publican in politics. His parents, Abraham 
and Gretje Frericks, came from Germany. He 
was born in Madison County, Illinois, on the 
30th of November, 1857, and at the age of thir- 
teen came with his parents to Nebraska. He 



received his education in the Ilinois public 
schools. In 1885 he was married to Mary L. 
Ritter and their family consists of eight chil- 
dren. 

L. E. TONES is of Welsh parentage. At the 
time of his birth, on January 6. 1857, his par- 
ents were living in Monroe County, Iowa. 
They moved to Missouri in 18G7 and after a 
six vears' residence there came to Nebraska in 
1873. He was married in 1885 and with his 
wife and three children lives at Palmyra, Ne- 
braska. Mrs. Jones ' maiden name was Lillian 
AIcNaughton. He is a farmer and now holds 
the office of Assessor, being a Republican. 

THEODORE WEBERING is at present 
serving his third term as County Commis- 
sioner. He is a baker by profession and a 
Democrat in politics. Pie was educated in the 
puljlic schools of Germany, where his parents 
died. When he was twenty-three years old he 
came to America and after living in St. Louis 
one j-^ear in 1881 moved to Nebraska with his 
wife, whom he married the year before. His 
wife's maiden name was Catherine Schruender. 
He was born January 10, 1857, and his present 
home is Nebraska City. He was Councilman 
of his town in 1893 and has been Park Com- 
missioner for the past nine years. 

C. H. KRESSEN came to America from 
Germany when he was twenty years of age. 
After living in Chicago, Illinois, for a few 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



297 



months, he removed to Nebraska in the latter 
part of 1868. The date of his birth is Febru- 
ary 12, 1848. His parents, George and Annie 
Kressen, remained in the old country. He is 
engaged in the implement business, has been 
Councilman and is at present serxing his first 
term as Mavor of Nebraska City. He is a 
Democrat and was married in 1872. 



CHARLES WILDER PIERCE was born 
in the City of New York, February 21, 1824. 
In 1849 he came to Nebraska. He was edu- 
cated in Yates Academy, Orleans County, New 
York. By profession he is a civil engineer and 
is the present County Surveyor of Otoe 
County and City Engineer of Nebraska Citv, 
He is a member of the Democratic party. 



PAWNEE COUNTY. 



The altitude of Pawnee County is from 900 
to 1.000 feet above sea level. The greater part 
of the surface is made up of uplands and bot- 
tom lands, which are usually di\idcd bv low 
hills. The soil is exceedingly fertile, and looks 
like rich garden mould. Ninety per cent of 
the land is tillable and the remainder makes 
good orchard and grazing land. Land has in- 
creased over one-third in value since 1897, and 
•■he highest price is paid for farin land, which 
sells as high as $70 an acre. The people are 
engaged in farming, dairying, stock feeding 
and fruit raising, while the principal resources 
are in the cereals and tame grasses. There are 
many orchards and vineyards, and also quite 
an amount of native timber, which grows along 
the North and South Nemaha Rivers and other 
smaller waters. In 1900 live stock amounted 
to $1.G91,721, 38,290 hogs and 7,675 cattle be- 
ing included in this valuation. Good building 
stone and a good quality of brick clay are 
found here. Several coal veins have been 
worked here quite successfully. The first set- 
tlers were Ohio men, who settled at Cincin- 
nati, about fourteen miles from Pawnee City, 
They were Judge Christian Bobst, Robert Tur- 
ner, Jacob Adams and Robert .Archer. They 
experienced all the hardships of pioneer life 
They were compelled to go a long distance into 
Missouri for supplies. In the midst of other 
trials came the severe winter of 1856 and 1857. 
In the spring of 1856-7 the first buildings were 
put up in Pawnee City. Hon. David Butler of 
Indiana moved to Pawnee City in 1858. In 
1861 he served in the territorial Legislature, 
in 1862 as a member of the Senate, and in 1866 
as the first Governor of Nebraska. P. Linning, 
born in 1857, was the first native of Pawnee 
City. The "jayhawkers," who were bands of 
men sworn to punish rebels, made all sorts of 
trouble for the non-unionists and others as 
well. Horse thieves and rogues of every de- 



scription claimed to be jayhawkers in self- 
defense. "Rosin Weed" Seminary, just west 
of Pawnee City, was the first school in the 
countv, and was tauerht by Miss Sarah H. Ball 

OLIVER H. LOCH is a Nebraskan, his 
birthplace being Pawnee County, the date Au 
gust 3, 1875. He lived on the farm until eight- 
een years of age, when he came to Pawnee 
Academ3% pursuing a course there and later 
engaging in the farming and mercantile busi- 
ness. He has always been an active member 
of the Republican party and has served his 
constituents as Countv Treasurer since 1901. 

GEORGE L. LORE is a native Nebraskan, 
having been born in Pawnee Countv, October 
25, 1869, where he lived on his home farm until 
1893, when he engaged in the hardware busi- 
ness at DuBois. During that same year he 
married Miss Atkinson, and they have one son 
and one daughter. He received the foundation 
of his business education at Western Normal 
College, Shenandoah, Iowa. He is one of the 
prominent Republicans of the county and has 
served the county as Clerk for two terms. 

G. R. MARTIN was born in Washington 
County, Indiana, January 14, 1845, where he 
lived until 1851, when he came with his father 
to Illinois, and fourteen years later to Ne- 
braska, engaging in farming. He received his 
education in the Illinois and Nebraska publiv^ 
schools, and entered the mercantile business 
in Pawnee City. From 1889 to 1891 he was a 
member of the Board of Commissioners and 
is now serving as Sheriff of Pawnee Count3^ 

FRANK A. BARTON was born December 
15, 1861, in Randolph, Pennsylvania. He is a 
graduate of the Northwestern Normal School. 
Endiboro, Penn.sylvania, and also of the Law 
Department of the University of Nebraska. 
He came to Pawnee County in 1885, engaging 
in school teaching until 1889. From 1889 to 
1893 he was Superintendent of Pawnee County 



298 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




PAWNEE COUNTY OFFICERS 

Front Row, Left to Right.— FRANK A. BARTON, Judge; G. R MARTIN, Sherifl: V. M BABITT, Surveyor; C W HARRIS. 

Commissioner; J. M. HURD, Commissioner. 
Back Row, Lett to Right.-J. B. BROOKS. Clerk District Court; CHARLES A. SCHAPPEL, Coronet: OLIVER H. LOCH. 

Treasurer; J. CLYDE WADDELL, Superintendent; J. E. GOSSIN, Assessor: GEuRGE L. LORE. Clerk. 




Pawnee County Court House. Photo by Jno. F. Wils'n 

and from 1895 to 1897 was Deputy State Su 
perintendent of Nebraska. He was married to 
Miss II anna G. Turner in 1888 and they have 
four children. Mr. Barton is a member of the 
RepubHcan party and is now serving as Judge 
of Pawnee County. 

J. B. BROOKS was born in Hillsboro, Ohio, 
June 1, 1841. Mr. Brooks served over four 
years in the Civil War, engaging in the battles 
of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Get- 



tysburg, and was then transferred to the Army 
of Tennessee, where he served under General 
Sherman until the close of the war. He came 
to Iowa in 1870 and then was engaged in the 
drug business in Kansas from 1872 to 1881. 
He then came to Pawnee City. He has been 
twice married and has one son and one daugh- 
ter. Mr. Brooks is a Republican, and has 
been Clerk of the District Court of Pawnee 
Countv for seventeen years. 

J. CLYDE WADDELL was born in Chris- 
tian County, Illinois, July 14, 1876. He came 
to Pawnee County in 1882 and lived with his 
father on the farm and taught school. He i- a 
graduate of the Pawnee Academy and has 
taken work in the ITniversity of Nebraska and 
in Tokio College, Missouri. In 1901 he was 
married to Miss E. Josephine Clifford of Lin- 
coln, Nebraska. He is a member of the Repub- 
lican party and is now serving his second term 
as Superintendent of Pawnee Countv. 

C. F. NYE was born in Highgate. Vermont. 
December 17, 1S.^S. He attended the Univer- 
sity of Vermont until he entered the War of 
the Rebellion, and studied law in .St. Allans, 
Vermont, two years. He came to Pawnee 
City in 1867 and practiced law for four years 
and then engaged in farming and stock rais- 
ing. He was married in 1870 and has five chil- 
dren. Mr. Nye is a member of the Republican 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



299 



party and served as Cuuiil)- Treasurer from 
1894 to 1898. 

CHARLES A. SCHAPl'EL was born in 
Brooklyn, New York, November 5, 1853. Four 
years later he removed to Glenwood, Iowa, 
with his parents, thence to Giicago, and set- 



tled in Pawnee City in 1883. He received his 
education in the common schools of Iowa and 
Illinois. He married Miss Florence Kinscy of 
Chicago in 1881. Mr. Schappel has been rep- 
resentative in the Legislature for two success- 
i\e sessions and Mayor of Pawnee City four 
terms. 



PERKINS COUNTY. 




1^ 



JOHN T. MONTGOMERY. 



A. SOFTLEY. 



Perkins County Court House 

Perkins County was organized in 1887 with 
an area of 882 square miles. Its county seat 
is Grant. Prairie land makes up the most of 
the surface, although there are a few high 
ridges. Eighty-five per cent of the soil is tilla- 
ble, and yet the greater part of the county is 
given over to stock ranges on account of the 
good supply of grass and water. Cattle, horses, 
and sheep are the principal live stock, and in 
1900 the valuation of stock was $605,610, in- 
cluding l.-TT") cattle and •J;?! hogs. A flour and 
grist mill is located at Elsie. The population 
I if the county is 1,702. of which number 563 are 
children of school age. There arc seventy-one 
school districts and eleven square miles of un- 
organized territory, of which nine square miles 
are government land. Of the forty-eight 
schoolhouses forty-two arc well furnished with 
supplies. The county supports one graded 



school, and the entire school property is valued 

at $20,733.85. 

A. SOFTLEY was born in England June 26, 
1868, and came to Michigan in 1883 and to 
Dodge County, Nebraska, in 1885. He is a 
graduate of the Business, Teachers' and Scien- 
tic Courses of the Fremont Normal College 
and holds a life certificate. He has been an 
instructor in the institutes of .Stanton, Perkins, 
Keith, Chase, Hayes and BuiTalo Counties, and 
was married to Miss Cleophine Fauquet at 
Wahoo, Nebraska, August 25, 1890. He was 
once appointed and four times elected Superin- 
tendent of Perkins County. 

JOHN T. MONTGOMERY was born in 
Morton Comity, Indiana, whqre he received his 
education and remained until 1882, when he 
came to Nebraska. He has since resided in the 
.State and has been engaged in farming until 
the last four years. I\Ir. Montgomery is a 
member of the Populist party and is now hold- 
ing the office of County Judge of Perkins 
County. 



300 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 
PHELPS COUNTY. 




FRANK A. DEAN. 






J. N. GUSTUS. 



ELIAS W. BEGHTOL. 



vide between the Republican and Platte Riv- 
ers, its surface being made up of a level plain 
and the valley land along the Platte. Wells 
are from 5 feet to 250 feet deep, in accordance 
with the elevation. The occupations are farm- 
ing, stock raising and dairying. The cereals 
are the principal products. Winter wheat oc- 
cupies 85,000 acres, corn 60,000 acres, oats 
10,000 acres and rye 15,000 acres. Corn and 
hogs are the chief exports, and recently 2,252,- 
800 bushels of corn and 42,840 hogs were 
shipped from the county in a single year. Land 
has doubled in value during the last few years. 
The value of live stock is estimated at $1,532,- 
199. Phelps is populated with 10,772 people 
and its county seat, Holdrege, has 3,007 inhab- 
itants. County organization took place in 
1873. There are 45.39 miles of railroads. The 
county is divided into seventj'-six districts and 
there is no unorganized land. There are sev- 
enty-seven school buildings, two of which are 
built of brick ; sixty of the schoolhouses are 
well supplied with apparatus. The county con- 



Phelps County Court House 

The soil of Phelps County is, in general, a 
dark sandy loam, underlaid with clay, almost 
all of which is capable of cultivation. Six per 
cent of the land is made up of a sandy, until- 
lable soil, which is utilized for grazing pur- 
poses. Phelps County is situated on the di- 




C. J. BEEDLE. 



tains 3,532 school children. The early histurv 
centers around the old freight and emigrant 
road, and the first settlements were trading 
ranches on the route. In the spring of 187.3 
there was a large immigration, which was con- 
fined mostly to the northern part of the 
county. 

C. J. BEEDLE was born in Hancock, Illi- 
nois, April 21, 18G1, and was educated in 
Crawfordsville College and Iowa Wesleyan 
University. In 1884 he came to Nebraska, 
where he has since resided. He was admitted 
to the bar in 1897 and has practiced law in Hol- 
drege since that time. In 1882 he married Miss 
Emma Johnson. He has been importuned 
twice to take the nomination for State Senator- 
ship, and at present is serving his second term 
as County Attorney. 

J. N. GL'STUS was born in Sweden, July 7, 
1855, and in 18G8 came to Illinois with his par- 
ents. In his twenty-seventh year he came to 
Nebraska, where he has since remained. In 
1883 he married Miss Jennie Myrtengreen and 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



301 



they have four children. He has been County 
Supervisor three years, Justice of the Peace, 
Assessor in 1899, and since 1900 has served 
as Sheriff of Phelps County. 

L. C. HUCI\. was born in North Germany in 
the year 1854 and when he was two years of 
age his parents came to the United States. He 
settled in Nebraska in 1887, having lived in 
New York State prior to that time. He was 
elected to the office of Clerk of the District 
Court in ltl91 and has served in that capacity 
lor twelve years, being a member of the Popu- 
list party. In 1879 he married Miss Henrietta 
Lawrence and they have three children. 

ELIAS W. BEGTHOL was born in Schuy- 
ler County, Illinois, November 2-1, ISIS. In 
1870 he came to Shenandoah, Iowa ; in 1880 re- 
moved to Lincoln and settled in lluldregc in 
1885. Was admitted to the bar in 1S91, was 
elected County Judge in 1901 and re-elected in 
1903. He served in Company 1, 137th Illinois 



Volunteer Infantry, and was in the battle of 
Memphis, Tennessee. At present he is Grand 
Captain General of the Grand Commandery, 
Knights Templar, of Nebraska. 

P. O. BILLING was born in Sweden in Feb- 
ruary, 18C(i, and in 1893 came direct to Phelps 
County, Nebraska. He is a graduate of th9 
Polytcchnical Institute of Matmo, Sweden, and 
by trade an architect and builder. Mr. Billmg 
served as Surveyor of Hielps County from 
189C to 1901 and was re-elected to that office in 
19U3. 

PRANK A. DEAN was born in LaSalle, Ill- 
inois, September 2S, 1855, and was educated in 
the Illinois State University, graduating in the 
class of lSi8. Two years later he came to 
Nebraska and engaged in the hardware busi- 
ness. In 16,9 he married Miss Lora Riggs. 
He has been Mayor of Holdrege and is now 
State Senator, having been elected on the Re- 
publican ticket. 



PIERCE COUNTY. 



The first settlement in Pierce County was 
made on the north fork of the Elkhorn River 
in 18GG. The settlers were a part of a German 
colony from Wisconsin, and the principal men 
were A. J. Huebner, August Nenow and Chris- 
tian Huebner. in 1870 R. S. Lucas and J. H. 
Brown settled on Willow Creek, forming the 
nucleus of the present county seat. Pierce, 
which now has a population of 770. In 1S71 
William B. Chilvers settled on Dry Creek, 
where Plainview now is. There were two im- 
portant hindrances to early immigration — the 
holding ol the most desirable lands by non- 
resident speculators and the lack ol transporta- 
tion and snipping facilities. Une of these evils 
was remedied by the laying of a railvva} 
through the county in- 1880. The county was 
organized in 1870 and a courthouse was built 
within the first year. There 'are now 59.3(1 
miles of railway. In 1879 there were C84 peo- 
ple in the county. The present population is 
8,445. The surface is about half lowland and 
half highland. The soil is dark and sandy, 
with an underlayer of clay. Seventy-five per 
cent of the land is capable of cultivation, and 
the remainder comprises sandy hills and 
ridges, which make good grazing land. The 
north fork of the Elkhorn River, and Dry, Wil- 
low and other small streams drain the county. 



Apples, plums, cherries and bush fruits are suc- 
cessfully cultivated, while cereals, potatoes, al- 
falfa, timothy and clover comprise the chief 
crops. Over 800 acres are devoted to the sugar 
beet industry. Pierce holds second place in 
the state in its production of farm cheese 
Land has doubled in value within the past few 
years, and 3U0 transfers of land have been re- 
corded recently. The county is apportioned 
into si.xty-six school districts, and there are 
seventy-six school buildings. No school has a 
term of less than six months. 1 here are four 
graded schools in the county. 

VV. G. HiRONS was born in Epworth, Iowa, 
xMay 10, 1870. In 1895 he moved to North 
Loup, Nebraska, and two years later to Pincc, 
where he has since resided. He graduated 
from Iowa University in 1895 and has been 
Principal of Schools at North Loup for two 
years and at Pierce for six years. He now 
holds the office of County Clerk. May lb, 1904, 
he married Miss Mary Tawney. 

WILLIAM B. CHILVERS entered life in 
the county of Norfolk, England, October 19, 
1835. He landed in New York in 1851, went 
to Chicago via the Great Lakes and four years 
later came to Boone County, Illinois, where he 
remained until 1871, except for the three years 
spent in the Ninety-fifth Illinois, Company B, 



S02 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 





J. A. WILLIAMS. N. M. NELSON. W. G. HIRONS. 



L. P. TONNER. B, M. JONES. 




Pierce County Court House 

during the Civil War. Then he came to Nor- 
folk, Nebraska, and took the first claiii' at 
Plainview. He married Miss Irene Pilcher in 
1873 and their eldest child was the first white 
baby born in Plainview. 

J. A. WILLIAMS was born at Galena, Illi- 
nois, August 6, 18(30. of English parentage. 
Mr. Williams settled in Nebraska in 1900. He 
is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, 
in both the Classical and Law Departments. 
He was City Superintendent of Schools at Ga- 
lena, Illinois, for several years and holds a life 
certificate as teacher. He is a member of the 
Republican party and has been elected County 
Judge of Pierce County. He has been success- 
ful on the lecture platform. 





(•'RANTC STRELOW. 



FRANK PILGER. 



H. F. BARNHART was born in State Line, 
Pennsylvania, September 12, 1857. He came 
to Creighton, Nebraska, in 1885, later to Os- 
mond, and located at Pierce in 1896. He grad- 
uated from the University of Pennsylvania in 
1S7(J and from the University of Iowa, Law 
Department, in 188). He is a member of the 
People's Independent party and is now serving 
his third term as County Attorney. 

FRANK PILGER was born in F.looming- 
t(in, Nebraska, May 10, 1.S77, of German- 
.\mcrican parentage. He moved to Plainview 
in 1888 and settled in Pierce in 1902. lie at- 
tended the Bloomington Normal, Plainview 
High School and Plainview Normal College. 
^^1903 he married Miss Mabel Searle. He is 
affiliated with the Democratic partv and served 
as Deputy County Clerk from 1902 to 1904. 
.Mr. Pilger was elected Coimtv Superintend- 
ent in 190.S. 

B. M. JONES was born in St. Joseph Coun- 
ty, Indiana. August 22, 18G0. In 1889 he came 
to Pierce County and has traveled nine years 
in Iowa and Minnesota for the McCormick 
Harvesting Company. He is a member of the 
Democratic party and is serving his second 



n 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



303 



term as Sheriff. In August, lyuo, lie luanictl 
Miss Iilla Peed, and they have two sons. 

N. AI. NELSON was born in Denmark, 
March 18, 1855. In 18C2 he came to Omaha 
and settled in Pierce County in 1881, engaging 
in the hardware business. In 1903 he was 
representative of the Nineteenth District in 
the State Legislature. He has been Justice of 
the Peace for eight years and at present hoUls 
the office of Treasurer of Pierce County, the 
first Republican elected to that office since its 
organization. 

FRANK STRELOW was born in Dober, 
Germany, June 2(3, 1SG7. In 1882 he came to 
Pierce County, where he has since resided. 



i le received his education in the common 
schools of Germany and Nebraska. In 1892 
he married Miss Kochn, and they have four 
children. He belongs to the Democratic party 
and is serving his first term as Assessor of 
Pierce County. 

L. P. TONNER was born on a farm in Ar- 
cadia, Iowa, February 20, 1879. In 1890 he 
moved to Nebraska, where he received his ed- 
ucation. Having taken a course in the Linclon 
Xormal University, he began teaching as a 
[irofession and was Principal of Schools at 
( )smond, when he was appointed Deputy 
County Clerk of Pierce County. 



POLK COUNTY. 



Polk County was organized in 1870 with an 
area of 435 square miles and the county seat 
was located at Osceola. This town at present 
has a population of 1,15-1: and there are 10,542 
people in the county. The only waste land to 
be found is in the low liills along the divide 
between the valley and upland and a few sandy 
strips along the river. The Platte and Blue 
rivers with Prairie, Davis and Clear creeks 
make up the water system, so that nearly one- 
fourth of the surface is fertile valley land. The 
soil is a dark, sandy loam in the valley and 
black in the uplands, from two to seven feet 
deep. The most valuable land is farm land, 
the best of which sells for from $(iO to $80 ; the 
least valuable land is pasture land, which sells 
for $;!(• an acre, .\pples, plums, cherries, 
peaches, grapes and small fruits are success- 
fully cultivated. Winter wheat covers on an 
average 37,738 acres; corn 86,277 acres; oats 
34,995 acres; alfalfa 1,112 acres, and wild hay 
25,454 acres. There are 1,(599 farms, almost 
all of which have building improvements. 
There are three flour and grist mills, and two 
brick-yartls in the comity. There are 71 school 
districts and an equal number of school 
houses, no school having less than a six 
months' term. The county has three graded 
schools, in which twenty teachers are em- 
ployed. In 1873 there were 3(!4 children of 
school age; at present there are 4,098. 

FRANK D. MILLS is a lawyer at Osceola. 
Nebraska. He w-as born on the twelfth of 
September, 1874 at Leon, Iowa. At five years 
of age he came to Nebraska where he has since 



resided. After graduating from the Osceola 
High School he spent three years in academic 
work at the University of Nebraska and then 
graduated from the Law Department. He is 
now Attorney of Polk County. He was Sec- 
ond Lieutenant of ('ompany H. Third Regular 
Nebraska Volunteer Infantry and First Lieu- 
tenant of Company K, Third Regiment of Ne- 
braska Volunteer Infantry. He was married 
September 30, 1902. 

D. ". COLE is Superintendent of Public In- 
struction in Polk County, having been a 
teacher by vocation. i!e wa.s b' rn near Rising 
City, Nebraska on the ninth of June, 1874. He 
attended the Bryant Normal at Stromsburg 
and has been engaged in school work in Polk 
and Butler Counties for several j'ears. In jioli- 
tics he is a populist and is serving his second 
term as .Superintendent. He was married to 
•Miss Maude Lott of Rising City, July 21, 18!'(;. 

C. J. HOLCOMB was born in May of 1850 
in P.rown County, New York. He moved with 
.his parents to Minnesota in 1857, thence to 
Illinois in 1859 and to Polk County in 1884. 
lie is County Treasurer and is at present serv- 
ing his second term. He was a member of the 
police force of Kcwanee, Illinois, for two years 
and was on the road two years as a traveling 
salesman. He is married and has a son and 
daughter. He is a niemlicr of the Populist 
party. 

F. H. BALL was born at Pepperell, Massa- 
chusetts, October 27, 1857. At two years of 
age he moved with his parents to Wisconsin 
and in 1879 settled in Nebraska He has 



304 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




(Photo by Clark, Osceola) 

Front Row, Left to Right —Li. M. SHAW, Coroner; HUGO FLODMAN, Commissioaer; H. A. EYESTONE, Commissioner; 

J. W. CROZIKR. Commissioner; D C. COLE, Superintendent. 
Middle Row, Lett to Right.— F. O. MILLS, Attorney: J. D. HARTMAM. Sheriff; F. H. BALL, Judge; JUD HOLCOMB, Treasu- 
^-I^ rer; C. M GROSVENOR, Deputy Clerk. 
Back Row, L' ft tn Right.— M. A. MILLS; Wm. CAMPBELL. Clerk District Court; .1. W. FILLMAN, Clerk; E. HOLCOMB; 

A. M JOHNSON. Assessor. 




Polk County Court House. Photo by Clatk 



been a member of the School Board and also 
served as County Commissioner one term. He 
has been elected County Judge and is a Popu- 
list in politics. Mr. Ball is married and has 
three sons and one daughter. 

J. W. FILLMAN came to Nebraska in ISSl 
from Sweden, where he was born October 15. 
1871. He was engaged in teaching for six 
years, having obtained his education at Bryant 
Normal University at Stromsburg, Nebraska, 
and at Fremont Normal School. He is now 
County Clerk and is independent in politics 
He has a wife and one child. 

J. D. HARTMAN was born in Schuyler 
County, Illinois, on February 18, 1857. His 
father is Cerman and his mother is American. 
His occupation is farming. In 1883 he came to 
Nebraska and located at Osceola. He was 
educated in the Illinois Public Schools. He 
holds the office of Sheriff of Polk County and 
is a populist. 

WILLIAM CAMPBELL came from his na- 
tive country, Ireland, July 15, 1882, and lo- 
cated in Illinois. His birth occurred on June 



i 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



305 



4, 1842. Ho came to Nebraska in 1S83 and his 
vocation is farming. He was Treasurer of the 
School Board for fifteen years. He has also 
held the positions of Justice of the Peace and 
County Commissioner. At present he is Clerk 
of the District Court. He lives at Osceola and 
has six children. 

L. M. SHAW is a practicing physician at 
Osceola, Nebraska, and at present holds the 
office of County Coroner. He was born Feb- 
ruary 4, 18G8 in Powcsheik County, Iowa. 
From this state he moved to Illinois in 1873 



and at the age of eleven came to Nebraska. 
He took his M. D. at the Iowa State Univer- 
sity. He is affiliated with the Republican 
partv. is married and has four children. 

CHARLES M. GROSVENOR is Deputy 
Clerk of I'olk County, and his residence is at 
Osceola, Nebraska. He came to Nebraska, 
Hamilton County, in 1872 from Troy, Iowa, 
where he was born on February 21, 1871. His 
father was George W. Grosvenor, a farmer by 
occupation. Mr. Grosvenor's business is that 
of a clothing salesman. 



PLATTE COUNTY. 



The Platte and Loup Rivers form the prin- 
cipal drainage of Platte County, and their val- 
leys average about three miles in width, the 
Platte valley occupying about one-sixth of the 
surface. About 95 per cent of the land is til- 
lable. During the last few years the land has 
increased 55 per cent in value and a great many 
farms have been sold. The people are engaged 
in farming, stock raising and dairying. The 
cereals, alfalfa, timothy and clover are the 
principal products. Sugar beets occupy about 
1,000 acres. One-third of the cheese manufac- 
tured on Nebraska farms comes from Platte 
and Pierce Counties. The county possesses 
many timber groves and orchards. There are 
seventeen miles of irrigating ditches and 1,488 
acres under this artificial water supply. The 
soil is a deep vegetable mould. There are sev- 
enty-eight school districts, which are supplied 
with eighty-four buildings, the entire school 
property being valued at $132,187. There are 
six graded schools, and the total number of 
school children is 6, GOG. The first settlement 
in Platte was made by the Columbus Town 
Company, which was organized in Omaha. 
The princijjal men of this company were Fred 
Gottschalk, Jacob Lewis and George Rausch. 
About the same time Isaac Albertson and E. 
W. Toncray located on Shell Creek. The Co- 
lumbus Town Company and the Pawnee City 
Company consolidated, and under this com- 
bined management the town of Columbus was 
marked out on May 30, 185G. Patrick Murrey 
and Patrick McDonough, who traveled from 
Pennsylvania afoot, located in the county in 
April of 18.^)7. A sort of fanatic, named Train, 
exerted his utmost energies to make Colum- 
bus the nntiniial capital. P>y measurements 



of maps, he found that this town was within 
ten miles of the geographical center of the 
United States, and within one mile of the cen- 
ter of the world map, and therefore he thought 
it doubly fated to be the capital city. The 
mail was first carried between Omaha and Co- 
lumbus by John Rickly, who drove an ox team 
Platte County was organized in 1858. The 
county population numbers 17,747, of which 
3,.')22 people are residents of Columbus, the 
county seat. 

AUGUST BOETTCHER was born in Ger- 
many, March 15, 1850. In 1S71 he came to 
Wisconsin and in 1873 settled at Columbus, 
where he has since resided. He was educated 
in the German schools, has been twice married 
and has eleven children. He has been Coun- 
cilman of Columbus and is a Democratic 
Mayor endorsed by the Republicans. Mr. 
Boettcher has retired from active business, and 
manages his six fine farms, which comprise 
twelve hundred acres. 

JOHN GRAF was born in Germany, Sep- 
tember 4, lS.->0. In 1854 he came with his par- 
ents to Wisconsin, later to Chicago, and to 
Columbus in 1876. He was educated at the 
I'lattcville, Wisconsin, Normal School and 
taught for six years. He married Miss Minnie 
I'.ader in 1882 and has three children. He has 
held various offices, Deputy Clerk from 1884 
lo 1888. City .Xsses.sor in Columbus in 1896 
and 1897. De])uty County Clerk since, and is 
now serving as Cotmty Clerk. 

JOHN RATTER.MAN was born in Cincin- 
nati, Iowa, April 4, 1853. In 18G3 he removed 
with his parents to Guttenberg, Iowa, later to 
Warren County, Iowa, and Hartington, Ne- 
braska, where he taught for sixteen vears ; then 



306 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




D. A. BECHEH. AUGUST BOETTCHER. OTTO E. HENER. 



JOHN GRAF. 



C. J. CARRIG. 




Platte County Court House. Photo by R. W. Saley 

to Humphrey, and finally to Columbus as 
County Judge. He was educated at the Nor- 
mal School at Milwaukee. In 1ST9 he married 
Miss Mary Kuchta and has six children. He 
has been Justice of the Peace and is now serv- 
ing his second term as County Judge. 

JERRY CARRIG was born in Platte 
County, Nebraska, December 27, 1860, where 
he has always lived except a short time spent 
at Beaver Crossing. He was educated in the 
Platte Center High School and the Lincoln 
Business College. He married Miss Kate 
Hayes ih 1900. Mr. Carrig's father was one 
of the pioneers who came to Platte County 
in 1854, when ox teams were the only means 
of trans|)ortation. He has been assistant in 
the County Clerk's office since 1890 and is now 
Deputy County Clerk. 

D. A. BECHER was born in Germany, Jan- 
uary 17, 1859, where he was educated. In 1880 



lie removed to Illinois and in the same year 
came to Platte County, where he has since re- 
sided. He has been married twice and has 
eight children. He is affiliated with the Dem- 
ocratic party and has held various offices, hav- 
ing been a member of the County Board and 
the Nebraska State Legislature from 1901 to 
190;i, also County Treasurer, which office he 
now holds. 

LYMAN R. LATHAM was born in Frank- 
linville, New York, April 29, 1871. In 1897 
he came to Columbus, his present home. He 
was educated in Tenbrock Free Academy and 
>tu(lied law in Judge Spring's office, being ad- 
mitted to the bar on coming to Nebraska. He 
has held the office of City Clerk, was United 
.'~>tates Referee in Bankruptcy three terms, and 
has been nominated for a second term as At- 
torney of Platte County, which position he 
now holds. 

OTTO E. HENER was born in Bremen, 
Germany, June 29, 1850, son of Professor 
Hener. He came to New York in 1872 and 
after traveling extensively in the South set- 
tled in Nebraska in 1882. He married Miss 
Lena Loseke in 188G and has four children. 
He has served as assistant Deputy Treasurer 
of Platte County for ten years and is now serv- 
ing his second term as Deputy Treasurer. 

C. J. CARRIG was born in Platte County, 
Nebraska, January 21, isr)9, where he has 
spent all his life. He attended the Business 
College at Burlington, Iowa, also at Lincoln 
Nebraska. In 1894 he married Miss Harvey, 
and has four children. He follows the occupa 
tion of stock buyer and has been Supervisor of 
Platte County seven years prior to his elec- 
tion as Sheriff on the Democratic ticket. His 
father was one of three brothers who were pio- 
neer settlers of Platte County. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



307 



L. H. LEAVY was born in Great Falls, New 
Hampshire, March 6, 185!). He removed to 
New York City with his parents in 1.SG5, later 
to Illinois and to Columbus in 1884, where he 
has since resided. He was educated in the 
New York City schools, Eureka College, Illi- 
nois, and the Columbus High School. He mar- 
ried Miss Loseke in 1889 and has three chil- 
dren. He was instructor in the County Insti- 
tute six years and has been elected County 
Superintendent four successive terms. 

R. M. ROSSITER was born in Ireland, June 



24, 1844, coming to Ohio in 1850 and in 1871 
to Columbus, Nebraska. He attended the 
Christian Brothers' School in Cleveland, after 
which he studied civil engineering. In 1881 
he married Miss Alice McCaffrey. In the sum- 
mer of 1872 he surveyed unorganized govera- 
ment land in Nebraska, later in Wyoming and 
then again in Nebraska. Mr. Rossiter is a vet- 
eran of the Civil War, Company E, Forty-first 
Ohio Volunteers; was wounded at Missionary 
Ridge, and was in the famous flotilla at 
IJrown's Ferry. 



RED WILLOW COUNTY. 



Red Willow County is situated in the Re- 
publican Valley. Besides the Republican 
River, there are Beaver, Red Willow, Drift- 
wood and Coon Creeks, whose valleys are, for 
the most part, occupied by alfalfa. The county 
has an area of 72(1 scjuare miles. The surface 
is composed of table lands, which slope down 
to the valleys by means of terraces. Good pas- 
turage is to be found on the hills near the 
streams, and a large number of cattle and 
horses are shipped from the county annually 
There are twenty miles of irrigating ditches, 
by which 1,542 acres are watered. Sugar beets, 
alfalfa, cereals, potatoes and melons are grown 
on the irrigated land, the cereals comprising 
the largest crop. Small grain, corn, cane and 
millet are raised on the farm land, which in- 
cludes 1,237 farms. Land has become 40 per 
cent more valualile in the last few years. Large 
quantities of fruit and a great deal of timber 
are successfully grown. The county popula- 
tion is 9,604, while that of the county seat, Mc- 
Cook, is 2,445. There are eighty-two school 
districts and four square miles of unorganized 
territory. There are eighty-six schoolhouses, 
which include five graded school buildings. In 

1871 herds of buffalo, antelope and other wild 
game were very numerous here. The first per- 
manent settler was John S. King, who settled 
in the eastern part on the Republican River in 
1871. Immigration came in rapidly in 1873 
and the county organizatifin was effected. In 

1872 the first postofficc was established at the 
Red Willow settlement, with Roval Buck as 
Postmaster. O. H. Cobb taught the first 
school at Indianola in 1873-4, the building be- 
ing the countv courthouse. 



ROBERT W. DEVOE was born in Leba- 
non, Nebraska, February 7, 1882, and has al- 
ways resided in Red Willow County. He at- 
tended Franklin Academy and studied law in 
an office. In 1!H)4 he married Miss Maud Sov- 
erns. He served as Deputy County Clerk for 
two years and in 11»();5, when only twenty-one 
yeasr of age, was elected Clerk of the District 
Court. He was probably the youngest county 
officer in the state when elected. He is a 
worker in the Republican party. His parents 
came to Nebraska in 1879 and' his father. El- 
mer E. Devoe, is engaged in the banking busi- 
ness. 

E. J. WILCOX was born in Canaan, New 
York, December 2(5, 1870. When a child he 
removed with his parents to Illinois, and in 
1884 to Nebraska, making the state his perma- 
nent home. He graduated from the l\lcCook 
High School and went into the mercantile 
business. He has been City Clerk for three 
terms. City Treasurer for two terms, and is 
serving his second term as County Clerk. 

FLORA B. QUICK was born in Council 
Bluffs, Iowa, October K;, 1873. In 1878 she 
came to Nebraska with her parents. She at- 
tended Franklin Academy and Doanc College 
and has done summer work at the University 
of Nebraska and the Peru Normal College. She 
has taught for seven years in Indianola and 
was elected County Superintendent by jiopular 
vote. Miss Quick has been affiliated with the 
Prohibition party, but was nominated by the 
Populists and Democrats. 

P.. G. GOSSARD was born in .Xmes, Iowa, 
December 15, 1872. and came to Nebraska in 
1886. He is a graduate of the Indianola High 



308 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




E. J. WILCOX. B. G. GOSSARD. JAMES WILLIAMS. FLORA B. QUICK. ROBERT W. DEVOE 




R. C. ORR. 







ELDRED. 



Red Willow Couniy Court House. Pho:o by t. She I Klmme; 



School and in 1896 married Miss Effie Shuma- 
ker. Mr. Gossard was Deputy Clerk of Red 
Willow County from 1894 to 1895, Deputy 
Treasurer from 1900 to 1904, when he was 
elected County Treasurer on the Republican 
ticket. 

C. E. ELDRED was born in Lafayette 
County, Wisconsin, June 30, 1870, came to Ne- 
braska in 1890 and settled at McCook in Oc- 
tober of that year, and in 1892 married Miss 
Jessie Pratt. He studied law in Phillips 
County, Kansas, and has been Mayor of Mc- 
Cook three terms, County Judge in 1902, and 
has recently been elected County Attorney on 
the Republican ticket. 

S. L. GREEN was born in Saratoga County, 
New York, February 28, 1823, of the same 
family as General Green of Revolutionary 
fame. He settled in Nebraska in 1872. In 
1849 he married Miss Dart, whose mother was 



a. descendant of Ethan Allen, and they have 
two daughters. He studied medicine in the 
Chicago Medical School. Dr. Green was a 
member of the Kansas Legislature in 1875 and 
187(1. and of the Nebraska Legislature in 188G 
and 1887. He has been elected County Judge 
on the Republican ticket for the second term. 

JAMES WILLIAMS is a native English- 
man, and the date of his birth is 1845. He 
came to Chicago, Illinois, in January, 1871, and 
in October of 1882 settled in Nebraska and 
has been engaged in farming. Mr. Williams is 
a member of the Republican party and has 
been elected Surveyor of Red Willow County 
on that ticket. 

R. C. ORR is a native of Wisconsin, having 
been born in P)loomington, and lived in the 
state until 1888, when he came to Hayes Coun- 
tv, Nebraska. He has lived in Southwest Ne- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



309 



braska ever since, practicing the legal profes- 
sion. He was educated in the University of 
Wisconsin in both the law and literary courses. 
He was District .Attorney of Grant County, 



Wisconsin, for six years, County Attorney of 
Hayes County for four years and now holds 
the position of Judge of the Fourteenth Judi- 
cial District. 



RICHARDSON COUNTY. 



This county was named in honor of William 
A. Richardson of Illinois, vvho was the third 
Territorial Governor. The present population 
is 19,614 and the county capital, l""alis City, 
has 3,023 residents. There are 80.19 miles of 
railway extending across the county. The low- 
lands are relieved by u])lands and rocky bluffs. 
The ground is composed of a rich, black soil, 
which is sandy in many places. The manufac- 
turing industry consists of eight flour and grist 
mills and three brick yards. Three hundred 
and thirty-eight thousand three hundred and 
twenty-nine acres are used in farming pur- 
poses, and within the last few years the value 
of land has increased 35 per cent. Corn and 
small grain arc the principal crops. A great 
deal of fruit is shipped annually, and corn and 
hogs are the principal exports. The county 
was organized in 18.5.5, and at the first election 
in 1856 98 votes were polled. In 1851 John A. 
Singleton and William Roberts took claims on 
the south fork of the Nemaha. In the spring 
of 1855 Jesse Crook tilled the first farm in the 
county near Muddy Creek. Stephen Story 
was one of the most prominent of the early 
citizens. William G. (ioolsbv was a profes- 
sional himter in the early days. In his report 
he says that herds of from fifteen to twenty 
deer were constantly in sight, and that he 
often killed as many as seven a day. Horse 
thieves were pimished by mob law in the ter- 
ritorial days, and a case of hanging is recorded 
In 1830 a treaty was made with the Indians 
by which a reservation of land was made for 
the half-breeds of the county. The 6,702 school 
children are apportioned among 104 districts. 
There are ten graded schools, which employ 
sixty teachers. 

WILLIAM M. RIFXiER is a native of Falls 
City, Nebraska, having been born March 5. 
1869, and he has been a resident of Falls City 
ever since. He graduated from Holton Col- 
lege, Kansas, in 1891 and went into the mer- 
cantile business. In 1896 he was married to 
Miss Katie Schnell of .St. Louis, Missouri. Ho 
has always been identified with the Republican 



party and has been elected County Recorder 
on that ticket. 

F. E. MARTIN is a native of Aledo, Illi- 
nois, born January 4, 1874. He received his 
education in the common schools, having come 
to Nebraska in 1874. He is a worker in the 
Republican party and has served as County 
.•\ttorney in Richardson County. His parent- 
age is American. 

JACOB C. TANNER is a native of St. Jo- 
seph, Missouri, having been born March 30, 
1869, of German parentage, where he spent his 
boyhood and received a common school educa- 
tion. During the year of 1884 he came to Falls 
City and engaged in the mercantile business. 
In 1898 he married Miss Sophia Lange of Falls 
City. He is a Republican of long standing 
aiKl has served the county in the capacity of 
Clerk. Mr. Tanner has been in business at 
I'"alls Citv for a number of years. 

GEORGE W. RENEKER was born in Kil- 
bourne, Iowa, April 10, 1864. In 1900 he came 
to Richardson County, and to Falls Citv in 
1902. He graduated from the Northwestern 
College in 1893 and Central Medical College 
in 1900. He has held the offices of Surgeon 
Missouri Lines, Burlington Route, United 
States Pension Examiner and Temporary Sur- 
geon to Troop A, Fifth Cavalry, and is at pres- 
ent the Coroner of Richardson County. 

GEORGE CROCKER was born in Cedar 
Falls, Iowa, April 10, 1867. He came to Ne- 
braska in 1893, teaching in Dawson County 
for seven years, Humboldt two vears and came 
to Falls City in 1902. He graduated from the 
Western Normal, Shenandoah, Iowa, and Lin- 
coln Normal, and has taken five years' special 
work in the Lhiiversity of Nebraska. He mar- 
ried Miss Ethel Judci in 1898 and they have 
one child. He was a member of the Iowa Na- 
tional Guards for three years and has been 
elected County Superintendent on the Repub- 
lican ticket. 

CHARLES LOREE was born in Lebanon, 
Ohio, March 19, 1852. In 1866 he came from 
Indiana to Richardson Countv. He was edu- 



310 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 







H. C. BARTON. 



GEO. W. RENEKER. 



WILLI.\M M. RIEGER 



GEO. CROCKER. 





JOHN HOSSACK. 



Richardson County Court House 



cated in Indiana, St. Joseph, Missouri and the 
Peru State Normal. He is a member of the 
Democratic party and has filled several offices, 
Assessor, City Clerk, County Clerk, Register 
of Deeds and Clerk of the District Court, 
which poistion he still holds. 

JOHN HOSSACK was born in Wills 
Count}', Ohio, November 3, 1853. His parents 
came from Scotland. In 1857 they removed to 
Illinois, in 1858 to Iowa and the following 
year to Nebraska and located in Richardson 
County. Tliey were travellinjj along the Pike's 
Peak trail through this county when they, 
stopped to rest their animals and so determ- 
ined to locate permanently. When John was 
three years old his mother died and when 



twelve, his father died. He is now in his third 
term as Sheriff of Richardson County and re- 
sides at Falls City. His politics are Republi- 
can. In 1874 he married Mary Sinclair and 
thev have four sons and four daughters. 

JOHN HIXTON is Chairman o"f the Board 
of Supervisors, serving his second term. He 
was born April 10, 1839 in England, whence 
he came with his parents to America in 1842. 
He lived in New York, Ma.ssachnsetts and 
Pennsylvania, before coming to Nebraska in 
1872. He located at Falls City and is one of 
the early settlers of that section. His occupa- 
tion is milling. He was married February 20, 
1865 and has one son living in Falls City. He 
is a republican. 



J 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



311 



H. C. BARTON was born .March 4. ISGr. 
in Will County, Illinois. He received a public 
school education and when a boy his parents 
moved to Kansas. After a residence of four 
years there he went to Missouri and in 1S1)4 



came to Nebraska, where he has been engaged 
in the poultry business. He was married 
October 8, 1902 to Myrtelle Morgan. He is a 
member of the Democratic party and is serv- 
ing his first term as Mayor of I'"alls Citv. 



ROCK COUNTY. 



Rock County is one of the newest additions 
to Nebraska counties, having been organized 
in 1888. It has a population of 2,809, and an 
area of l,Or)() square miles. Bassett, the county 
seat, has a population of 2T0 people. The sur- 
face is composed of a jjlain, sand hills and val- 
leys. A few canyons are found. The soil is 
dark and sandy and a little over half of it is 
tillable. The water sui)ply is composed of the 
Niobrara and a great many small streams and 
lakes. There is a comparatively small crop 
acreage, the raising of live stock being the 
principal occupation. Potatoes, wheat, oats 
and corn are raised to some extent, but hay is 
the principal crop. The market of sheep is 
greater than that of any other live stock. 
Land has increased 50 per cent in value re- 
cently, and there is a large demand for ranch 
land at present. There is some vacant gov- 
ernment land. The county has two flour and 
grist mills. In the majority of schools, the 
terms last from six to nine months. There 
are .59 districts and 5.5 school houses. The 
entire school property is valued at $2.5,()13.o5 
and .50 of the districts own their own text- 
books. There are 1,1.51 children of school age 
in the county. 

G. D. MARSH was born in Ohio, January 
2, 18G1. In 1870 his parents hometseaded in 
Rock County, Nebraska, where they have 
made their permanent home since He was 
married to Miss Mary .Artus in 1900 and they 
have two daughters. Mr. Marsh is a Republi- 
can and is serving his first term as Sherifl:' of 
Rock County, having previously been Deputy 
Sheriff for six years. 

GEORGE M. HOPKINS was born in Bear 
Grove, Iowa, October 1(5, ISCfi. Was educated 
in the Peoria high school, the Normal .School 
of Valparaiso, Indiana and the Western Nor- 
mal College of Shenandaoh. Iowa. In 1890 ho 
took a homestead in Ri>ck County and was 
married October 9. 1894 to Miss Laura Green 
of Kirkwood. He is a member of the Repub- 



lican party and is serving his third term as 
.Superintendent of Rock Count\-. 

1'. H. D.WIS was born SeiUenilier 5, 1879, 
in Corning. Iowa, where he graduated from 
the high scIkjoI. In July, 1899, he came to 
Newport, Nebraska, where he is engaged in 
the banking business and resided until he was 
elected Clerk of Rock County. He was mar- 
ried September Id. 1902, to Miss Cora N. 
Berry of Rock Rapids, Iowa, and was elected 
on the Democratic ticket in a Republican 
county, in 1903. 

C. II. P.\TCH was born in Massachusetts. 
.March 1, 1848 and in 1855 went to Illinois 
with his parents. He graduated from the 
P>ryant & .Stratton Business College of Dav- 
enport, Iowa, in 1S()9. He was married in 
1872 but his wife died a short time after their 
marriage and in 1870 he married Miss Orilla 
E. Carpenter of Michigan. In 1890 he came to 
Rock County, Nebraska, and as a member of 
the Republican ]iarty was elected Treasurer 
of Rock County. 

E. OLSON is a native of Sweden, the date 
of his birth being June 24, 1871. He came to 
America with his parents and settled in Rock 
County, Nebraska, in 1881. He received his 
education in the public schools of Rock County 
and the Luther .Academy of Wahoo, Ne- 
braska. He was married to .Miss Carrie Good 
of Rock County in 1901 and they have one 
son. He is a member of the Republican party 
and is serving his third term as Judge of Rock 
County. 

JOHN C. RUPERT was born in Clarion 
County, Pennsyhania. December 5, 1S4G. 
When the Civil War broke out he enlisted and 
served over three years, being one of the 
youngest soldiers in the war from his native 
state. He was married to Miss Susan Davis 
in 186G and they have five children. Mr. Ru- 
pert settled in Rock County, Nebraska, in 1874, 
is a member of the Republican party and is 
one of the County Commissioners of Rock 
Countv. 



312 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 







HUGH MILLER. 



JOHN C. liUIEKT. 



ANDREW F. DUGGER. 



E. OLSON. 







H. ARMSTRONG. 



G. D. M.\RSH. 



GEORGE M. HOPKINS. 



P. H. DAVIS. 




Rock County Court House 

H. ARMSTRONG is a Nova Scotian, born 
in Digby, May 21, 1857. In 1883 he took a 
homestead in Rock County, and was married 
to Miss Melvina Prickett of Albion, Minne- 
sota in December, 1879, who died in the fall of 
1885. In 1888 he was married to Miss Fanny 



White of Diit¥, Nebraska. Mr. Armstrong is 
a Republican, was School Moderator for eight- 
een years and is now Covuity Commissioner. 

HUGH MILLER was born in Ringold 
County, Iowa, January 38, 18G7. He attended, 
the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, 
Iowa, and in 1892 came to Howard County, 
Nebraska, and in 1893 settled in Rock County, 
where he now lives and is engaged in the mer- 
cantile business. He has been Principal of 
Schools at Newport, Nebraska, and was 
County Superintendent of Rock County two 
terms. He is a Republican in politics and in 
1893 was married to Miss Belle Griffith. 

ANDREW F. DUGGER is a native of In 
diana, having been born December 6, 184r), at 
Bloomington, from whence he removed witV 
his parents in 1847 to Oregon City, Illinois 
where he lived until 1865, when the family re- 
moved to Adams County, Iowa, settling neai 
Quincy, then the county seat. In 1882 hi 
came to Nebraska and homesteaded in Rock 
County in 1884, his present home. In the 
earlier years of his life he occupied himselt 
exclusively with the ministry, but later en- 
gaged in farming and newpsaper work as well 



\ 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



313 



He is a grndiiato of Mount Morris College. 
Illinois. In 1ST5 he married Miss Virgini:' 
Miller and they have three children. He has 
been President of the South Dakota. Ne- 
braska and Kansas Conference of the Church 



of (iod for the last twelve years and has also 
hcon the editor of the l>ible Advocate, pub- 
lished at Stansberry, Missouri. Mr. Uiiggcr 
is an early settler of Rock County and hao 
taken an active part in public affairs. 



SALINE COUNTY. 



The educational advantages of Saline 
County are exceptionally good. Beside Doane 
College there arc nine graded schools. The 
first school in the county was one taught by 
Miss Mollie Hess, a little northwest of Crete. 
In 1870 there were GSO children of school age, 
and six school houses ; there are now 6,859 
school children and 123 school buildings. A 
great deal of bitter feeling was caused in early 
times over the location of the county seat. 
Swan City was the first seat of government ; 
in 1871, Pleasant Hill became county seat, 
and next Wilber was chosen as capital. This 
town now has a population of 1, 11.54. The 
county was named Saline, because it was 
thought to possess large salt water springs. 
Good building material is found in quarries of 
magnesian lime stone. The 82.72 miles of 
railway furnish the county with good shipping 
facilities. The soil is dark with an under layer 
of clay. Farming, stock raising, dairying and 
fruit growing are the leading occupations. 
Savage Indians, fierce border men and butTa- 
loes ruled the county until 18.58 when the first 
actual settlement was made. This honor be- 
longs either to E. Frink or Victor Vifquain. 
There is a large foreign element in the popu- 
lation, which is composed of Scotch, Irish 
German and Bohemians. Nebraska City, 
which is 7.") miles distant, was the only source 
of supplies for the early settlers The county 
was twice deserted in 18G4 on account of the 
reported approach of the Sioux. In 18G7 the 
county was organized and its present popula- 
tion is 18,2,52. The first newspaper in the 
county was the .'valine Countv Post, started in 
1871 and edited by Rev. Chas. Little, a Con- 
gregational minister. 

J. W. SUA B ATA is an attorney at Wilber, 
Nebraska, and is now filling the office of Clerk 
of the District Court. He was born Decem- 
ber 15, 1S()7, in Jones County. Iowa. He at- 
tended the common schools of Nebraska, after 
coming to Saline County in 1S71. His politics 
are Republican. He was married in the year 
1900. 



j. W . SHESTAK was born on the first day 
of March, 18G2, at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and 
at the age of eleven years came to Nebraska. 
The pul)lic schools and Doane College, Crete, 
contributed to his education. He held the 
office of Register of Deeds for eight years and 
of Deputy County Clerk for four years. He 
is serving his third year as County Clerk. His 
parents, Joseph and Anna Shestak, were born 
in the old country and came to America when 
children. He was married in September of 
18S4 and has three daughters and one son. 

B. V. KOHOUT is County Attorney of Sa- 
line and lives at Wilber, Nebraska. He came 
to Nebraska in 1879 from Chicago, which was 
his birthplace. He was born in December of 
1S7;!. He attended the Wilber High School, 
after which he took his LL. B. degree at Ann 
Arbor. Michigan. When he was sixteen he 
began work on the railroad. He was telegraph 
operator for four years and was dispatcher for 
several months. He belongs to the Republi- 
can party. .A.fter his graduation from Ann Ar- 
bor, he was in the law office of F. A. Foss at 
Crete for four or five years. 

D. G. HOPKINS was born in April of 1844 
at Palmyra, Ohio, from which place he moved 
to Illinois in 1866 and to Nebraska in 1888. 
He received his A. B. at Hiram College in 
( )hio. His vocation is teaching and he is at 
])resent serving his fourth term as Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction in Saline County. 
He has taught in high schools of Illinois, Ohio 
and Nebraska. In politics, he is a Democrat. 
His parents came to this country from Wales. 
In 1S()4 he married .Sarah McCleery. 'ihcy 
have two sons and one daugther. 

H. H. HLNDEE, who has been County 
ludge of Saline Countv since 1893, came to 
Nebraska in 1884. His' father, C. K. Hendee, 
was a surgeon and jihysician. Mr. Hendee 
was born July 13, 1852, in New Albany, In- 
diana, where he was educated in the jjublic 
schools and was instructed principally by pri- 
vate tutors. He is affiliated with the Rei>ub- 



314 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




VICTOR H. DURAS. 



TOM A. SAWYER. D. G. HOPKINS. H. H. HENDEE. W. H. STALEY. 




J. W. SHESTAK. 





CHARLES E. BOWLBY. 



Saline County Court House. Photo by W. M. Hare 







^*^ i 

^ 




i 

O. CRONE. WILLIAM BURKE. C. W. RIBBLE. H. P. SCHMIDT. B. V. KOHOUT. 

lican party and was married to Jessie Mc- His parents lived in Illinois before coming to 

Lean in 1880. Nebraska. He holds the office of County 

H. 1'. SCHMIDT is Countv Commissioner Commissioner and resides at Friend, Ne- 

of Saline and he came to Nebraska twenty-six braska. He was Assessor for six years, and is 

years ago. He was born May 3, 1854, on the a Democrat. In 1875 he married Isabella 

Atlantic Ocean, while his parents were mak- Coney and they have four children, 

ing the voyage from Germany to America. W. H. STALEY is an old settler in Ne- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



315 



braska, having come here in 1S70 and located 
at Crete. He was born in Tippecanoe County, 
Indiana, in October of lS-10, and is now a re- 
tired implement dealer living at DeVVitt, Ne- 
braska. He lived three years in Illinois before 
coming to Nebraska. For eight years he has 
been County Commissioner and is a member 
of the Re])ublicaii jjarty. He married in ISUT 
and has three children. ^ 

T. .\. N'ORE has been Chairman of the 
Board of County Commissioners for eight 
years. He was born in Pennsylvania in March 
of 1848, and his parents were Isaac and Mary 
Vore. He attended the common schools, biit 
is princi])ally self echicated.' He is affiliated 
with the Republicans. Married Emma E. 
Parson in 1877 and they have two children. 
He came from Pennsylvania to Illinois when 
an infant and began his residence in Nebraska 
in 18(56. 

C. W. RIRRLE was born November 13, 
18.58, in Hancock County, Illinois. His father, 
Jerome 15. Ribble, was a physician. He re- 
ceived his education in Abingdon College, Illi- 
nois, and came to Nebraska in 1878, living in 
the state ever since. ?ilr. Ribble now resides 
It DeWitt, where he is engaged in the banking 
business. He is a Republican and at jiresent 
is State Representative from that disrtict. He 
was married to Marv M. P>aker October 20, 
187.S, who died in LS'OO. 

VICTOR H. DURAS, a young Saline 
County lawyer, was born in Wilber, Nebraska, 
on the sixth day of May. 1880. After grad- 
uating from the public schools of Wilber, he 
served as Deputy District Clerk for one year, 
and subsequently entered the University of 
Nebraska, from which he graduated with LL. 
I>. In 190U he attended the Columbian Uni- 
versity of Washington, D. C, from which he 
gra<luated with a Master of Laws, and the 
honors of the youngest member. He is affil- 
iated with the Re]niblican party. 



O. CRONE was born in Clinton County, 
Iowa, January 29, 18.")!). He settled in hViend, 
Nebraska, about 1881 and has resided there 
ever since, engaging in fanning. He is affil- 
iated with the Rei)ul)lican party and in 190."? 
was elected Town Marshal of Friend on the 
Re])ulilican ticket. Mr. Crone is one of the 
old residents of I'Viend and has a large ac- 
i|uaintance in the countv. 

WILLI. \M IU"RKl-:'was born in Madison, 
Wisconsin, July Illh, 18.50. In 18(i8 he re- 
moved to Miller Point, Wisconsin, and in 1870 
came to Friend, Nebraska, where he has since 
resided, engaging in farming and threshing. 
He has been Mayor of I'rieiid thirteen years, 
although he is a Democrat, and the town is 
RepubHcan, three to one. During his officiate 
he has inaugurated many improvements, such 
as the jnitting down of brick sidewalks all 
through the residence part of the town. 

CHARLES E. P.O\\'LBY was born March 
1-5, 1878, in Crete, Nebraska, his present home. 
His father, C. J. I'owlby is editor of the Crete 
Democrat. Mr. Bowlby received his A. B. at 
Doane College, Crete, in 1897 and the degree 
A. M. at the University of Nebraska in 1901. 
During the Spanish-American War he enlisted 
in Company II, N. S. V. E. He has been City 
Engineer of Crete, Deputy County Treasurer 
and at present is serving as County Treasurer 
of Saline County. He is the youngest County 
Treasurer in the state. 

TOM A. SAWYER was born in Notting- 
ham, Wells County, Indiana, and received his 
education in the Univer.'nty at Pella, Iowa. 
His father, James .Sawyer, was a doctor. Mr. 
.Sawyer served during the War of the Rebel- 
lifin in Com])any G, Eighth Indiana Cavalry. 
He came to Nebraska February 22, 1873, and 
at first settled near where Milligan has since 
been located. He now resides at W^ilber. He 
is associated with the Fusionists and has been 
.Sheriff of .Saline Countv for three terms. 



SARPY COUNTY. 



Sarpy C-Ouiity was organized in 18.57. It has 
a population of 9,0.S0 and is county capital, 
Papillion, has 594 residents. This city was 
originally a suburb of Bellevue, which was the 
first county seat. The county was named in 
recognition of the valuable citizenship of Col. 
Peter .A. Sarpy, an early pioneer in this county. 



In ISIO the .American I'ur Comi)any estab- 
lished a trading post at the mouth of the 
Platte. In 1S24, this post was put in the charge 
of Mr. Sarpy. In 1823. the Indian agency was 
established at Bellevue. In 184G the Presby- 
terian Board of Missions established a mission 
at the agency with Kev. h'dward .McKimiey at 



316 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 







A. R. MORRISON. 



HORACE D. PATTERSON 



JAMES R. WILSON. 



P. D. McCORMICK. 




I. H. McD.ANIEL. 





EDWARD McEVOY. 



Sarpy County Court House 



the head. Beside the mission, a school was 
established for the benefit of the children of 
Omahas, Otoes, Poncas and half breeds. Dur- 
ing the following year, a company of Mor- 
mons, under the leadership of Brigham Young, 
stopped here for a short time. In 1854 the 
Indian title expired and the county was opened 
for settlement. A "Claim Club" was organ- 
ized at this time to prevent claim disputes and 
"jumping" in which mob punishment was 
common. In 1SS2 there were 1,656 children 
of school age, while at present there are nearly 
three times that number. There are nine 
graded schools and the greater number of the 
county schools have terms lasting nine months 
or more. The principal products are cereals, 
fruits, timber, tame hay and building stone. 
Ninetj' per cent of the soil is capable of culti- 
vation, while the remaining rough land is used 
for pasturage. F^rm land comprises 141,190 
acres. The principal exports are corn and 



hogs. The State fisheries are located in this 
countv. 

JAMES R. WILSON was born in Fairfield 
County, Ohio, April 18, 1855, removing from 
there to Missouri. In 1882 he settled in Sarpy 
Countv, Nebraska. He has been in office con- 
tinually since 188T, having been Postmaster at 
Gretna, Nebraska for four years, Clerk of 
Sarpy County from 1893 to 1900, and since 
that time County Judge. He has always been 
a Repu1)lican and has been elected six consecu- 
tive teims in a Democratic County. 

G. P. MILLER was born in Sarpy County, 
Xebra!-ka, February 24, 1875. He graduated 
from the Fremont Normal College in 1898 and 
has since been teaching and engaged in news 
paper work. He has been connected with the 
Papillion Times for more than a year and is 
serving his third term as Countv Superintend- 
ent of Sarpv Countv. 

EDWARD McEVOY was born October 28, 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



317 



l.Siis. ill Douglas County, Nebraska. His par- 
ents were of Irish birth and came to Nebraska 
from Illinois in 18.54. Mr. McEvoy was mar- 
ried to Susan Sprague of Papillion, June 27, 
l!)(i4. He is a Democrat in politics and is serv- 
ing his third term as Sheriff of Sarpy County. 

r. D. McCORMICK was born in Perry 
County, Ohio, December 22, 1847. His parents 
came from Ireland in 1841 and settled in Ohio. 
Mr. McCormick came to Nebraska in 1880. 
He is affiliated with the Democratic party and 
was County Treasurer two terms and is now 
serving his first term as Clerk of Sarpy County. 

I. H. McDANIEL was born in Montgom- 
ery County, Virginia, August 11, 1S72, and the 
next year came to Nebraska. He has attended 
the ^Vestern Normal of Shenandoah, Iowa, and 
is a graduate of the Fremont Normal College 
of Fremont, Nebraska. In 1899 he was mar- 
ried to Gertrude Barber. Mr. McDaniel was 
Deputy County Clerk for three and a half 
years. The office of Clerk of the District Court 



was just recently instituted in .Sarpy County 
and he is the first man to hold the office. 

A. R. MORRISON was born in" Sarpy 
County, Nebraska, February 10, 18G5. His 
parents came from Ireland and settled in 
Sarpy County in 18G4. He is a Republican 
and is serving his first term as County Treas- 
urer of Sarpy County. He was married to 
Miss Bridget Gillespie, March ?, 189-.', and they 
have two children. 

HORACE D. PATTERSON was born in 
Rock Bluffs, Cass County, Nebraska, Scptem- 
l)er 13, 1872. He has lived nearly all his life in 
Sarpy County, attended the Papillion high 
school and the Fremont Normal and is a sur- 
veyor and civil engineer by profession. He is 
a member of the Democratic party and in 1894 
and 1895 was Surveyor of Sarpy County, 
which office he now holds. For three years he 
was Deputy County Surveyor of Butler 
County and two years in Dodge County. In 
1901 he was married to Miss Tillie Olson of 
.South Dakota. 



SAUNDERS COUNTY. 



Saunders County is named for the last Ter- 
ritorial Governor, Hon. .\lvin Saunders. It is 
situated in the Platte \'alley, and is the best 
water county in the state. In addition to the 
numerous creeks, there are hundreds of 
springs. This is counted one of the six best 
agricultural counties in the state, and is one of 
the three first counties in the production of 
broom corn. The soil is a loose, dark brown 
and 92 per cent is productive. The farmers 
are engaged in the raising of small grain, corn, 
tame grasses and vegetables, together with 
stock raising and dairying. The four flour 
and grist mills and the one brick-yard furnish 
employment to a great many peo])Ie. A con- 
siderable acreage is devoted to sugar beets, 
while corn is the largest export. \Vithin the 
last few years, land has doubled in value. 
There arc a great many timber and fruit trees. 
The history of the county begins with the his- 
tory of Ashland, because the old Government 
trail passed through this town. In 18.57 Mr. 
Reubin Warbritton took up the first claim in 
Saunders. He was followed immediately by 
Joseph Stambaugh and Mr. John Aughe. The 
Pawnees gave the early settlers considerable 



trouble with petty thefts. Immigration was so 
rapid that between the years of 1808 and 1870 
the population grew from 400 to 4,594. In 
1871 immigration was discontinued because 
one-half of the land was in the possession of 
two rival railroad companies, and was there- 
fore not offered for sale. In 1872 there were 
2,0G8 school children and 28 school buildings, 
now there are 8,165 school children and 118 
school buildings. The county was organized 
in 1867 and its present population is 22,085. 
The countv seat. Wahoo, has 2,100 inhabitants 
CHARLES H. SLAMA was born in Bo- 
hemia, October lU. 1870. He removed to Wis- 
consin with his parents in 1876, graduated 
from the Law Department of the I'uiversity of 
Wisconsin in 1894 and in 1899 he moved to 
Colorado and later in the same year settled in 
Wahoo. He has been Countv ludge since 
1901. " ■ 

JOHN II. CRAWFORD was born at Ba- 
tavia, Michigan, in November, 1872. When six 
months of age his parents removed to Central 
City, Nebraska, and in 1880 settled in Wahoo. 
He graduated from the Wahoo high school and 
became a salesman. He is a member of the 



318 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




OSCAR HANSEN 



WILLIAM T. ilAUCK 



Saunders County Court House 



Populist party and has been Clerk of the Dis- 
trict Court two terms and President of the City 
Council twice. 

CARL R. GOUCHER was born in Ply- 
mouth, Indiana, April 16, 1874. He removed 
with his parents to Oi-ville, Ohio, later to 
Nashville, Michigan, and settled in Wahoo in 
1889. He served as Deputy County Clerk from 
1900 to 1902 and was then elected County 
Clerk by the People's Independent and Demo- 
cratic parties. 

J. W. MENGEL was born in Sangamon 
County, Illinois, April 25, 1857. In 1878 he 
removed to Saunders County and has taught in 
various Nebraska towns during twenty-four 
years spent in school work. He is a graduate 
of Fremont and Lincoln Normals. In 1901 he 
was elected County Superintendent and re- 
elected in 1903. 

JOHN L. SUNDEAN was born in Lincoln, 
Nebraska, July 14, 1874. He attended the Lin- 
coln public schools from 1879 to 18SG, and 



afterwards Luther Academy, Wahoo. Ne- 
braska and Augustana College, Rock Island, 
Illinois. He also took a course at the Lincoln 
Business College and graduated from the Law 
Department of the State University in 1895. 
Since 1901 he has been serving as County At- 
torney of Saunders Countv. 

WILLIAM T. MAUCk was born in Gib- 
son County, Indiana, November 13, 1859, 
whence he moved to Saunders County. He 
attended the University of Nebraska for two 
years and taught school for a time in Saunders 
County. He served as City Clerk for one term 
and later was elected Countv Recorder, 

OSCAR HANSEN was born in Saunders 
County, Nebraska, November 9, 1873, where 
he was raised on the farm and moved to Wa- 
hoo in 1892. He is a graduate of Luther Acad- 
emy and Lincoln Normal College. He served 
as Deputy Couty Treasurer from 1895 to 190 J, 
when he was elected County Treasurer on the 
Fusion ticket. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



319 



FRANK R. SCHEEL was born April 17. 
1858, in Germany, came to the United States 
in 1880 and settled in Nebraska, April 1, 188(). 
At present he is engaged in the furniture and 
undertaking business in Wahoo. He was mar- 
ried February 52, 1901, to Huldah Rocker of 
Wahoo. He is a member of the Democratic 
party and is the Coroner of Saunders Countv. 

CHARLES PERKY was born in George- 
town, Ohio, December 17, 1841. He served 



four years in the Civil War in the Seventh 
and 101th Ohio Infantry and became First 
Lieutenant of the latter regiment. His father, 
a minister, was chaplain of an Indiana regi- 
ment for over four years. Mr. Perky is a 
hanker and served • two terms as County 
Treasurer of Saunders County and City Treas- 
urer of Wahoo. He is affiliated with the Re- 
publican party and is Mayor of Wahoo. 



SCOTT'S BLUFF COUNTY. 



Scott's Bluff County was organized in 1888 
with an area of 755 square miles. Its present 
population is 2,553. Gering, the county seat, 
has 433 residents. There are 40.12 miles of 
railway extending along the course of the 
Platte. The surface is composed of rolling 
prairie and valleys relieved by bluffs, Scott's 
BhifT being the highest point. Cattle, horses 
and sheep are grown on the ranges. The land 
has a dark and sandy soil with a clay and sand 
subsoil of which (J5 per cent is tillable. There 
are 179 miles of irrigtaing ditches which water 
29,244 acres. Alfalfa, small grain, potatoes 
and vegetables are the principal crops raised 
on the irrigated land. The price of land is 
much higher than it was a few years ago. Ash, 
maple, box elder and cottonwood are the prin- 
cipal trees, and of the farm crops, corn has the 
largest acreage. Several years ago, sod school 
houses were very numerous, while now there 
are only three, and according to present plans, 
these will soon be discarded. In 19o0 none of 
the schools had a term of more than six 
months and there was only one town school 
Now, half the districts have eight or nine 
months terms and there are three graded 
schools. Four school buildings have been re- 
cently built, and there are 1,10-1 children of 
school age in the countv. 

JAMES McKINLEY' is a native of Iowa, 
having been born in Lucas County, March 1, 
18G6, and lived in that state until 1885, when 
he came to what is now Scott's Bluff County, 
Nebraska. The next year he homesteaded in 
this county and has lived here ever since, en- 
gaging in ranching and farming. Mr. McKin- 
ley is a Democrat, has been the Assessor of 
Irrigation and is at present the Clerk of Scott's 
Bluff Countv. 

THOMAS PRESTON was born in Cardiff, 



England, November 10, 1840, and was brought 
up and educated in that city, becoming a civil 
engineer and surveyor and also cashier in a 
steel factory. He came to the United States 
in 1887 and settled in Nuckolls County, Ne- 
braska, where he lived a year and a half, and 
then came to .Scott's Bluff County, homestead- 
ing here in 1889. Since he has been in Scott's 
Bluff County he has engaged in the ranching 
business, and now owns a ranch comprising 
aliout five sections. He is associated with the 
Republican party and is the Treasurer of 
Scott's Bluff Countv. 

RUNEY CARROLL CAMPBELL was 
born at Des Moines, Iowa, November 17, 1858, 
of Scotch parentage. He came to Nebraska 
in the spring of 1,S83 and was the first settler 
in what is now Scott's Bluff County. He is a 
member of the Democratic party, was elected 
Sheriff of Scott's Bluff County, a strong Re- 
publican county, and was re-elected in 19(i3. 
He was first employed as a cowboy and later 
engaged in stock raising and farming, the lat- 
ter under the Central Irrigation Canal, of 
which he is Director and President. Mr. 
Campbell is an accomplished violini.st. 

E. S. De La MATTER is a descendant of 
the French Huguenots who came to New York 
in the early history of the colonics, and was 
horn in Gardner, Illinois, June (5, 1855. He was 
educated in the public schools of Illinois and 
the Northern Indiana Normal at Valparaiso, 
Indiana. He came to Nebraska in 1881 and 
in 188(! homesteaded in what is now Scott's 
Bluff County. Mr. De La -Matter is a Repub- 
lican and has been Judge of Scott's Bluff 
County since 1901. He has also been Treasu- 
rer of the Gering Irrigation District, Justice of 
the Peace for seven years and Countv Commis- 
sioner six vcars. 



320 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




I.OLLIN- B. JUDSON. OSCAR W. GARDNERH. M. THORNTON. THOMAS PRESTON. I,. L. RAYMOND. 




Scotts Bluff From Which County was Named 



t^^ FRANK P. JOHNSON was horn at \' alley, 

^r^ ^^^ Nebraska, November 2'2. 1879. He was born 

^^^^L >^^^^^^ of American parentage and his ancestors were 

^^^^^^^^^H distinguished on account of the part taken in 

^^^H^^^^l the Revolutionary War and the War of 1813. 

^I^^^^^^^H His father was a school teacher and was the 

first Superintendent of Scott's Bluff County. 
c. N. WRIGHT. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Republican 

party and was elected Superintendent of 
Scott's P.lufF County in 1903. He has been en- 
gaged in teaching for eight years. 
L. L. RAYMOND was born 



PETER MFARLANE. 



in Butler 

County, Nebraska, October 19, 1871, where he 
lived until 1885, when he removed to Dawson 
County. In 1887 he went to Cheyenne County 
and has lived in that section of Nebraska since. 
He attended the Fremont Normal College for 
two years and prepared himself for the law by 
a correspondence course and was admitted to 
the bar in November, 1903. Mr. Raymond is 



a Repuljlican and has held the office of County 
Superintendent for two terms, was County 
Judge one term and is now serving his first 
term as Attorney of Scott's BluflP County. 

ROLLIN B. JUDSON was born in Council 
Bluffs, Iowa. June 13, 1879. His father, a 
graduate of Ann Arbor University. Michigan, 
was a civil engineer and surveyor and gave his 
.=on the necessary training to prepare him for 
that profession. His preparatory education 
was received in the high school at Council 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



321 







W, E. MORSE. 



R. C. CAMPBELL. 



J.\MES MiKlNI.EY. 



FRANK P. JOHNSON. 



I!liift'.';. Mr. Judsoii was married October 16, 
1!>01, to Miss Aiijjic E. Tompsett of Omaha. 
\ebraska, and settled in Scott's Rluff County 
in 1902. He is affiliated with the Republican 
party and is serving; his second term as Sur- 
veyor of Scott's Bluff County. 

PETER McFARLANE was born in Perth- 
shire, Scotland, July 25, 1856, and at the age of 
seventeen went to the western coast of Africa 
as agent for the firm of McFarlane Bros. & Co.. 
of Glasgow. He remained there four years 
and then was employed by tlie firm in Glasgow 
five years longer. In 1882 he came to the 
United States and lived at Exeter, Nerbaska, 
for two years, then took a homestead near Bro- 
ken Bow and settled in Scott's Bluff County in 
1887. He has a quarter section of land under 
irrigation and cultivation and was at one time 
the Treasurer of the Irrigation District. He 
has been Treasurer of the Gering School Dis- 
trict and is the Cashier of the Bank of Gering. 

A. KENNEDY was born in County Tyrone, 
Ireland, January 5, 1842, where he spent his 
youth and received his education. At the age 
of twenty he came to the United States and lo- 
cated at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he 
worked for the firm of Allen Kirkpatrick & 
Co., helping load cannon balls during the Civil 
War before they had cooled. After living in 
Delaware County, Iowa, for a time, he came to 
Madison County, Nebraska, in 1883 and set- 
tled in 188(> in what is now Scott's Bluff Coun- 
ty, where he took a homestead, on which he 
still lives. He was married to Miss Martha J. 
Baxter of Ireland in 1870 and they have six 
children. Mr. Kennedy has a quarter section 
of land under irrigation. He is associated with 
the Republican party and has served his con- 
stituents as Commissioner, Justice of the Peace 
and is now the Assessor of Scott's Bluf^' 
County. 



11. -M. THORNTON was born in Kane 
County, Illinois. February 2!), 1854. At the 
age of twenty-two he pre-empted in what is 
now Scott's Bluff County and has made the 
county his home since that time, where he is 
now engaged in the real estate and banking 
business. He was educated in the public 
schools of Illinois and the Business College at 
Dixon, Illinois. He was married to Miss Alice 
Johnson of Scott's Bluff County in 1897 and 
they have three children. He has eight hun- 
dred acres of land in Scott's Bluff County un- 
der irrigation, is affiliated with the Republican 
party and was Clerk of Scott's Bluff County 
for two terms. At present he is United State's 
Court Commissioner. 

FRED A. WRIGHT was born in Washing- 
ton County, New York, February 11, 1869, his 
parents removing to Iowa the next year and 
later to Weeping Water, Nebraska ; then back 
to Iowa again, and in 1892 he came to Scott's 
Bluff County. After completing his prepara- 
tory education he studied law in the office of 
Theodore W. Ivory of Glenwood, Iowa, and 
was admitted to the bar in Nebraska in 1894. 
He was married to Miss Lizzie Royer of Ger- 
ing, Nebraska, in 1896 and is a member of the 
firm of Wright & Wright. He was postmas- 
ter at Gering for four years and served two 
years as County Attorney of Scott's Bluff 
County. 

C. N. WRIGHT was born in Pacific Citv. 
Iowa, November 14, 1879, where he lived until 
his tenth year, when he removed with his par- 
ents to Weeping Water, Nebraska, where he 
made his home until 1892, when he came to 
Scott's Bluff County, Nebraska, and home- 
steaded here in 1901. He studied at Tabor 
College, Iowa, and Olivet College, Michigan, 
and graduated from the law department of the 
University of Nebraska in 1903. He is now a 



322 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



member of the firm of Wright & Wright, law- 
yers, at Gering, Nebraska. Mr. Wright was 
married June 17, 1903, to MiSs Minnie M. Fink 
of Scott's Blufif Connty and they have one 
daughter. 

W. E. MORSE is a native of Illinois, hav- 
ing been born in Nora, May 29, 1859. He re- 
moved with his parents to Iowa in 1876, came 
to Hooper, Nebraska, in 1880, and six years 
later to Scott's Bluff County, where he home- 
steaded and has since made his home. He was 
married to Miss Luella V. Newman of Dar- 
lington, Wisconsin, and they have one daugh- 
ter. Mr. Morse has a ranch of 560 acres in 
Banner County, Nebraska, which he has well 
stocked with horses. He is a member of the 
Republican party, is Deputy Treasurer of 
Scott's Blufif County and Director of the Ger- 
ing Irrigation District. He has also been a 
school director and Deputy Sheriff of this 
county. 

M. BRISTOL was born on a farm near 
Alta, Illinois, November 24, 1861. His father 
is a veteran of the Black Hawk War and still 
lives on the place he settled upon in 1832. Mr. 
Bristol gained his education in the public 
schools and the high school of Peoria, Illinois. 
In 1886 he came to Scott's Bluff County and 
homesteaded. He now owns a half section of 
irrigated farming land in' Scott's Bluff County. 
Mr. Bristol is a Democrat in politics and has 
been Mayor of Gering and of Mitchell, Ne- 
braska ; also Deputy Sheriff and is now the 
Deputy Clerk of Scott's Bluff County. 



OSCAR W. GARDNER was born in Mont- 
gomery County, Illinois, January 24, 1860, and 
graduated from the Academy at Hillsboro, Illi- 
nois, in 1881. In 1884 he came to Broken Bow, 
Nebraska, and one year later to what is now 
Scott's Bluff County. He helped to divide old 
Cheyenne County and to organize Scott's Bluff 
County, and in the. winter of 1886 and 1887 
formed a joint stock company and laid out the 
town of Gering, of which he was the first post- 
master. Mr. Gardner is identified with irriga- 
tion interests in this county and owns con- 
siderable land which he has under irrigation 
and cultivation. He is Secretary and Attorney 
of the Gering and Central Irrigation Districts. 
He studied law in an office in Gering and was 
admitted to the bar in 1892. He is a member 
of the Republican party and has served as 
County Judge of Scott's Bluff County, and at 
present is Mavor of Gering. 

C. B. WHIPPLE is a native of New Hamp- 
shire, having been born November 29, 1843, in 
New Boston, where he lived until his twenty- 
fifth year, when he removed to Illinois. In 
1874 he went to Washington County, Kansas, 
and the next year to Nodaway County, Mis- 
souri. He came to Boone County, Nebraska, 
in 1882 and in 1887 settled in Scott's Bluff 
County, where he took a homestead and has 
been engaged in the mercantile business. He 
enlisted in Company K of the Seventh New 
Hampshire in 1861 and was mustered out Oc- 
tober 29, 1864. Mr. ^Vhipple is a Republican 
and has twice served the county as its Treas- 
urer. 



SEWARD COUNTY. 



Seward is an agricultural county, and as a 
consequence of its deep black soil and the 
abundant water supply furnished by the Big 
Blue, West Blue and Lincoln, ]\Iiddle and Bea- 
ver and Plum Creeks, all the streams are lined 
with beautiful trees. There are great many 
wells, both surface and artesian. The princi- 
pal industries are farming, dairying and fat- 
tening of cattle and hogs. In 1899 Seward took 
first place in its production of oats, which was 
over 2,000,000 bushels. Quite an acreage is 
planted to sugar beets. There are 2,285 farms, 
356 of which have recently changed owners. 
There are seven flour and grist mills and two 
brick yards. Seward was organized in 1867 



Its original name was Green, in honor of Sena- 
tor Green. William H. Seward's name was 
afterward chosen because Mr. Green proved a 
traitor to the Union in the Civil War. The 
county seat is also Seward, and it has a popu- 
lation of 1,970 people. The county population 
is 15,690, of which 5,718 are school children 
No school has a term of less than six months 
The first settlement was made by Daniel Mor- 
gan and sons, William and Thomas and Lewis, 
in 1858. In 1863 homestead claims were taken 
up by Job Reynolds, Thomas L. Rodgers, 
Samuel Long and C. J. Neihardt. The second 
permanent settlement was made by Thomas 
West and son and Orian Johnson. 



I 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



323 





■ jrv^f^ 







J. M. SMILEY. 



L. F, SCHULTZ. DON C. McGWARTNET 



M. D. CAREY. 




E. H. KOCH. 





C. A. BEMIS. 



Seward County Offi(.es. Photo by Schmadlewsky 



J. M. CALDER was born in Clinton County, 
Iowa, May 26, 1863, whence he removed to 
Seward County. He received his education 
here, graduating from the high school in 1883. 
He farmed until 1889 and has since engaged in 
the mrecantile business. He is affiliated with 
the Democratic party, and has been Clerk of 
the District for four years. 

E. H. KOCH was born in Seward, Nebraska, 
March 25, 1871, of German parentage. He 
has spent all his life in Seward, teaching and 
farming, except three years when he was at- 
tending the Lincoln Normal College. He is 
a member of the Republican party and has held 
the office of County Superintendent since 1901. 

A. E. BAKER was born September 18, 18 13, 
in Manchester, Indiana. He received his edu- 



cation in Gundry's Commercial College, Cin- 
cinnati, Ohio, and engaged in the live stock 
commission business there. In 1882 he came 
to Seward and is making a specialty of breed- 
ing fine stock. He is a member of the Inde- 
pendent party and has been elected County As- 
sessor. He is of American parentage. 

J. M. SMILEY was born in McDonald 
County, Illinois, 1850, of Scotch-Irish parent- 
age. In 1880 he came to Seward and engaged 
in farming, making his home there ever since. 
He is affiliated with the Republican party and 
has been elected Sheriff of the county. 

DON C. GWARTNEY was born'in Mouck- 
port, Indiana, September 4, 1862. In 1883 he 
removed to York County and in 1887 came to 
Seward where he has since made his home. 



324 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



farming for a few years and then starting a 
laundry, which he has operated for fifteen 
years. He is connected with the RepubHcan 
party and has been elected Clerk of the Dis- 
trict Court. 

L. F. SCHULTZ was born in Germany, No- 
vember 2, 1865. In 1872 he came to Boston 
with his parents and three years later settled 
in Seward. He is Cashier of the Jones National 
Bank at Seward and has been City Treasurer 
and County Treasurer, which office he still re- 
tains. He is affiliated with the Republican 
party. 

A. LEAVENS was born in Bethel, Ohio, 
January 16, 1851, of New England parentage. 
Later he removed to Utica, Iowa. He re- 
ceived his education at Erving Academy, Iowa, 
and was admitted to the bar at Vinton, Iowa. 
He has practiced law in Iowa and Nebraska 
since. He is of Republican faith and has been 
elected County Judge of Seward County. 

M. D. CAREY was born in Fillmore County, 
Minnesota, in 1863. He removed to Hamilton 



County. Iowa, and later came to Seward 
County, Nebraska, where he has since re- 
mained. He obtained his education in Depauw 
University, Indiana, taking the law and aca- 
demic courses. He is a member of the Popu- 
list party and in 1902 was elected County At- 
tornev. 

CARL A. BEAT IS was born September 8, 
1861, in Cavendish. Vermont. In the spring of 
1877 he came to Nebraska. He received his 
education in the Black River Academy. Lud- 
low, Vermont, and the Seward High .School. 
He is a practicing attorney at Seward and 
has been Surveyor of Seward County for two 
terms and is the acting County Surveyor of 
Butler County at present. For the past three 
years he has been connected with the Ne- 
braska Investment Company of Milford, Ne- 
braska, as their land examiner. He has also 
published a map of Seward County and has 
just issued one of Butler County, both of which 
have been highly complimented for their work- 
manship and correctness. 



SHERIDAN COUNTY. 



The greater part of the 6,033 people of Sheri- 
dan County are engaged in the raising of cat- 
tle, sheep and horses. The sandhills in the 
southern part furnish good pasturage. Over 
fifty miles of irrigating ditches are in opera- 
tion. The county has a large area of 2,484 
square miles, which is watered by the Niobrara 
and many small streams, chief of which are 
Beaver and White Clay Creeks. Alfalfa and 
sugar beets occupy quite a large acreage. Land 
has increased in value by one-half within re- 
cent years, and nearly 1,000 farms have been 
sold lately. The county has three Hour mills 
and two brickyards. Sheridan was organized 
in 1885. Rushville, its capital, has 483 resi- 
dents. The transportation facilities consist of 
77.65 miles of railway. The county has UoU 
miles of unorganized territory, although there 
are 107 districts. Ihe average school term is 
five months. There are three graded schools 
and ninety-six buildings in all, three having 
been built within the last two or three years. 
The county has 1,897 children of school age. 

C. L. HOPPER was born in Christian 
County, Illinois, February 11, 1869. When 
two years of age his parents removed to York 
County, Nebraska. He attended York Col- 



lege two years, the State Normal at Peru two 
years and the University of Nebraska one year. 
He was principal of the schools at Hay Springs, 
Nebraska, from which place he was elected 
Superintendent of Sheridan County. He was 
married in 1804 to Aliss Louise Ralston of Mc- 
Dowell, Virginia. He is a member of the Re- 
publican party. 

LEE FRITZ was born in Scioto County, 
Ohio, September 26, 1865. In 1885 he came to 
Sheridan County, Nebraska, where he has since 
remained, and engaged in farming and stock 
raising. He has a ranch of eight hundred acres 
in Sheridan County and was married to Miss 
G. Ziegler of Gordon, Nebraska, in 1893. He 
is a Republican, has been precinct assessor and 
is now Treasurer of Sheridan County. 

AMY I. STEWART, Clerk of the District 
Court, was born in Pennsylvania and in 1887 
went to Kansas with her parents. She took a 
three years' normal course at Chapman, Kan- 
sas, and a business course in the Ottawa Busi- 
ness College, Ottawa, Kansas. Miss Stewart 
came to Rushville, Nebraska, in 1896 and took 
a position as Deputy Clerk of the District 
Court, in 1899 was assistant cashier in the 
Stockman's Bank, Rushville, served as Deputy 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



325 





7i 



1^ 


Hf^is^S 


■'if ^* 


^M4!l4^l 


tfi 


H 




I. R. URAY. CHARLES P. BRESEE. I.EE FR.TZ;. DE F. VAN FLECK MART. E P. VAN FLECK. 




AMOS BURWELL. 








_^Kg2 




p. T. JOHNSON. 



AMY I. STEWART. 



Sheridan County Court House 

Clerk of the District Court eight years and has 
been elected Clerk of the District Court, being 
affiliated with the Republican party. 

DE F. VAN FLECK was born in Milwau- 
kee, Wisconsin, December 14, 1849. In Feb- 




C. L. HOPPER. 



ruary, 1863, he enlisted in Company F of the 
Si.xty-fourth Illinois Regiment and was badly 
wounded at the Battle of Atlanta, the injury 
destroying the use of his left arm. In 1879 he 
came to Nebraska and homesteaded in Sheri- 
dan County in 1884. He was appointed Dep- 
uty County Clerk in 189.3, two years later was 
elected Clerk and has held that position ever 
since. 

J. H. EDMUNDS, County Judge, was born 
in Minnesota, October 15, 1860, where he lived 



until his admission to the bar in 1885, when 
he came to Nebraska. Since coming to Sheri- 
dan County he has practiced law continuously, 
is a member of the Republican party and is 
serving his third term as County Judge. In 
1886 he was married to Miss R. B. Tull of 
Hamilton County, Nebraska, and they have 
four children. 

T. E. HOUSH was born in Milledgeville, 
Iowa. January 12. 1863. In 1882 he came to 
Seward County. Nebraska, and in 1884 home- 



326 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



steaded in Sheridan County. On March 22, 
1892, he was married to Miss Phoebe Haskin. 
Mr. Housh is a member of the Populist party 
and has been elected Sheriff of Sheridan 
Countv for the fourth term. 

I. R'. bray was born December 25, 1852, hi 
Green County, Wisconsin, and came to Hamil- 
ton County, Nebraska, in 1872. He settled in 
Sheridan County in 1884. Mr. Bray has eisjht 
hundred acres of deeded land in Sheridan 
County and is the proprietor of the Commer- 
cial Hotel of Hay Springs. He is a Republican 
and is serving his second term as County Com- 
missioner. 

P. T. JOHNSON was born in Norway, De- 
cember 14, 1850. In 1869 he came to the 
United States and came to Sheridan County, 
Nebraska, in 1885. June 28, 1876, at Norway, 
Iowa, he was married to Miss Minnie Tow, 
who died in 1887. Mr. Johnson has a stock 
farm and was formerly engaged in the imple- 
ment business. He is a Populist and is now 
serving his second term as County Commis- 
sioner. 

MABEL PEARL VAN FLECK was born 
in Saunders County, Nebraska, May 18, 1884. 
and the next year her parents moved to Sheri- 
dan County. She graduated from the Rush- 
ville High School in 1900 and since that time 
has been Deputy Clerk of Sheridan County. 
Her parents were among the early settlers and 
her father is a veteran of the Civil War, hav- 
ing been a member of Company F of the Sixty- 
fourth Illinois Regiment. 

AMOS BURWELL was born at Lowden, 
Iowa, May 6, 1859. He attended Cornell Col- 
lege for two years and then began as an agent 
operator for the Northwestern Railroad, in the 
service of which he remained for eighteen 
years. In 1883 he was transferred to Nebraska. 



He was interested in the banking and mercan- 
tile business before coming to Rushville. In 
1888 he married Miss Mary Connor. He is a 
Republican and has been appointed Deputy 
Treasurer of Sheridan County. 

CHARLES P. BREESE, the first white man 
now living to go through what is now Sheri- 
dan County, was born in Council BlufTs, Iowa, 
January 26, 1861. His father was a govern- 
ment blacksmith of the Indian reservation at 
Genoa, Nebraska, and then moved to Butler 
County. When a boy of fifteen Mr. Bresee 
went to the mountains and was engaged in 
freighting and mining in the Black Hills and 
Idaho for six years, when he returned to But- 
ler County and was there married to Miss An- 
nie Edgar in 1885. In 1885 he homesteaded in 
Sheridan County. He is Secretary and Treas- 
urer of the Maverick Loan and Trust Com- 
pany, is a Republican and was Judge of Sheri- 
dan County for four years. 

W. H. WESTOVER was born in Delaware 
County, Iowa, March 19, 1858. In 1870 he 
came to Lincoln, Nebraska .where he received 
his education in the High School and the State 
University. In 1877 he went to David City, 
Nebraska, and studied law while teaching 
school in Butler County, having begun the 
study of law in the office of E. E. Brown of 
Lincoln. He was admitted to the bar in 1879 
at the age of twenty-one. He came to Sheri- 
dan County in 1885 and took a homestead 
there, which he still holds. In 1879 he was 
married to Miss Olive C. Paschal of Burling- 
ton, Iowa, and they have ten children. Judge 
Westover served two terms as Attorney of 
.'^he^idan County and is now serving his third 
term as Judge of the Fifteenth Judicial Dis- 
trict. 



SHERMAN COUNTY. 



The first settlement in Sherman County was 
made in 1873 by a party of less than twenty 
men, who emigrated from Grand Island. Soon 
after the coming of these people a terrible 
snowstorm occurred in the month of April 
Sixty men were shut up in the store of Frank 
Ingram for three days while the storm was at 
its worst. In the fall the settlement comprised 
seven log houses and a hotel. The first mar- 
riage was that of Frank Ingram and Fanny 



Taylor, which occurred at Christmas. There 
was a large immigration in 1874. The court- 
house was completed during this year at a cost 
of $5,000, and on the day it was officially occu- 
pied it was burned to the ground. The hordes 
of grasshoppers and the winter of 1874 and 
1875 caused hard times for the new county, 
but the rush of gold seekers to the Black Hills 
in 1876 brought about some degree of pros- 
perity. The county is made up mostly of the 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



327 




R. D. HENDRICKSON L. A. WILLIAMS. J. I. DEPEW. 



J. A. ANGIER. J. S. PEDLBR. 




GEO. H. GIBSON. 





EDNA MINSHULL 



Sherman County Court House 






U. M. MATTHEW. 



W. P.. MEI.LOR. S. N. SWEETLAND. 



D. C. GROW. 



E. G. TAYLOR. 



broad and productive valleys of the Middle 
Loup River and Oak, Clear and Muddy 
Creeks. Seventy-five per cent of the land is 
tillable, and the cereals, fruits, vegetables, su- 
gar beets and alfalfa are the principal products. 
The county was organized in 1873 and its pres- 
ent population is 6,550. Loup City is the 



county seat. The first school was taught by 
Miss Susan S. Gilbert at Loup City in 1873. 
The county is divided into seventy school dis- 
tricts, the greater number of Avhich have a 
term of six months or more. There are three 
graded schools, and the total school property 
is valued at $51,451, 



328 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



R. D. HENDRICKSON was born April 15, 
1865, at Metamora, Franklin County, Indiana. 
Since his residence at Loup City he has been 
engaged in school teaching and farming. He 
was elected County Sheriff of Sherman County 
in 1892 and held that position for four years. 
In 1901 he was County Superintendent and 
was re-elected in 1903. 

L. A. WILLIAMS was born May 7, 1843, in 
Lawrence County. Illinois. In 1885 he came 
to Sherman County. Nebraska. He was a pri 
rate in the Seventh Wisconsin Infantry and 
a member of the famous "Iron Brigade," and 
later became a Lieutenant in the Forty-third 
Wisconsin Infantry. Company B. He served 
until the close of the war. having engaged in 
fifteen battles. Mr. Williams is a Republican, 
was Deputy Sheriff in Wisconsin. Deputy 
United States Revenue Officer and from 1880 
to 1891 was City Marshal of Loup City. He is 
now serving as Sheriff of Sherman County. 

H. M. MATTHEW is a native Englishman, 
having been born in London, October 30, 1854. 
Mr. Matthew came to Chicago in 1872, home- 
steaded in Valley County, Nebraska, in 1878. 
and settled in Sherman County in 1S83. Mr 
Matthew graduated from Eastbourne Collps:e. 
England, in 1871, preparing himself for the 
army, and in that course received training in 
the common law. He was admitted to the bar 
in Nebraska in 1891 and has been engaged in 
active practice since. 

J. S. PEDLER was born May 30, 1857. in 
the province of Ontario. In March. 1879, he 
removed to Newton. Iowa, and in 1880 came to 
Sherman County, Nebraska. He was married 
to Miss Mary A. Thompson of Newton. Iowa, 
in 1880. Mr. Pedler is associated with the 
Republican party and was Sheriff of Sherman 
County for four years, during which time he 
studied law and was admitted to the bar in 
December, 1890. He was elected County At- 
torney in 1902. 

J. A. ANGIER was born May 21. 1842, at 
Hardwick, Vermont. In 1879 he came to Loup 
Citv, Nebraska, and farmed. He graduated 
from the high school at La Moille, Illinois, 
and was married May 21, 1863. to Miss Olive 
H. Smith. Mr. Angier is a Populist and is 
serving his third term as Judge of Sherman 
County. 

GEORGE H. GIBSON was born October 
7, 1857, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. He 
came to Iowa in 1877 and the next year to 
Loup City, Nebraska. He married Miss Lou- 



venia F. Barnes of Bedford County. Pennsyl- 
vania, in 1876. Mr. Gibson is affiliated with 
the Republican party and is serving his sec- 
ond term as Clerk of Sherman County. He is 
a printer at present, but was formerly engaged 
in the furniture and undertaking business. 

S. N. SWEETLAND was born in Liver- 
pool. England, July 17, 1855. In 1879 he came 
to the United States and located six miles 
south of Loup City, Nebraska. He was mar- 
ried in 1885 to Miss Lucinda Goodwin of Sher- 
man County. He is a Populist and is serving 
his second term as Treasurer of Sherman 
County. 

D. C. GROW was born August 31, 1847, at 
Batavia, Illinois. He received his education 
in Chicago and came to Sherman County, Ne- 
braska, in 1876. He was married to Miss Hat- 
tie Reuniff of Bloomington. Illinois, in 1870. 
Mr. Grow now operates a flour and feed store 
at Loup City, is a Republican and Chairman of 
the Board of County Supervisors. His father 
served two terms as Clerk of this county. 

EDNA MINSHULL was born in the prov- 
ince of Ontario, Canada, January 12, 1883. She 
attended the Litchfield High School and grad- 
uated from the high school at Loup City in 
1899. In 1902 she graduated from Doane 
Academy at Crete, Nebraska, and was ap- 
pointed Deputy County Treasurer January 1, 
1903, having been an assistant in the County 
Clerk's office two years prior to this. 

J. I. DEPEW was born September 23, 1867, 
in Allen County, Indiana. He came to Sher- 
man County in the spring of 1887 and was mar- 
ried to Miss Elsie J. Smith of Sherman 
County in 1892. Mr. Depew is a Republican 
and was chairman of the town board for eight 
years, chief of the fire department three terms, 
member of the school board and is now Mayor 
of Loup Citv. 

E. G. TAYLOR was born December 12. 
1867, at Ashton. Illinois, and came to Sherman 
County, Nebraska, in 1879. His father is a vet- 
eran of the Civil War. Mr. Taylor attended 
the high school at St. Paul for two years, grad- 
uated from the Grand Island Business College 
in 1S89 and that same year married Miss Lydia 
H. Brown. He has been engaged in the grain 
business for the last eight years and prior to 
this was in the mercantile business at Ashton, 
Nebraska. 

WILLIAM R. MELLOR was born in Por- 
ter County, Indiana. He clerked in a dry 
goods store for ten years and was employed as 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



329 



a traveling salesman three years. Tn 1883 he 
was married to Miss Ammie Pyke of Michigan 
City, Indiana, and they came to Nebraska in 
the spring of 1885. He located at Loup Cit\ 
June 2, 1885, and formed a partnership witb 
Joel R. Scott, an attorney, in 1889, and at- 
tended to the real estate and insurance pnrt 



of the business; was admitted to the bar in 
1894, but has continued to give especial at- 
tention to the buying and selling of real estate. 
He was elected a member of the Nebraska 
State Board of Agriculture in 1898, has served 
four years on its Board of Managers, and was 
clci-lod President of said Board in 1904. 



SIOUX COUNTY. 



This county was almost the last hunting; 
ground occupied by Nebraska Indians, and 
they were very hostile to intruders. Two mili- 
tary posts. Fort Robinson and Camp .Sheridan, 
were stationed here to keep the Indians in 
check. By the treaty of 1876 the Sioux In- 
dians, through fear of forcible expulsion, re- 
linquished their right to this land Most of 
the early settlers had squaws for wives. This 
vast tract of 2,046 square miles was organized 
in 1886. It has a population of 2,055, and Har- 
rison is its county seat. There are twenty-four 
school districts, among which the 576 children 
are divided. Eleven districts have terms of 
from six to nine months' duration. There are 
twenty-three school buildings, twelve of which 
are frame and eleven log. Five thousand one 
hundred and thirty-one dollars is the average 
amount which is annually expended for teach- 
ers' wages. The surface is composed of prai- 
rie land and sand hills, together with the val- 
leys of the Niobrara and other smaller streams. 
One thousand four hundred and thirty-three 
acres are irrigated by eighty-four miles of ditch 
at an expense of $5.52 per acre. In 1899 tin- 
crops produced on irrigated land amounted to 
$32,332. Hay is the leading crop, and good 
pasturage is to be found anywhere. Land has 
increased 40 per cent in value since 1897. A 
large number of the inhabitants are employed 
in the raising of cattle, horses, and sheep, and 
just now there is a great demand for ranges. 
In 1900 live stock was valued at $1,664,155, 
and cattle supply the greater part of the stock 
market. Oats cover 1,079 acres, which is a 
larger area than that of any other farm pro- 
ducts. There is quite an extent of government 
land yet open for settlement here. 

M. J. O'CONNELL was born in Syracuse. 
New York, August 3, 1859. From there he 
went to Minnesota and then came to Sioux 
City, Iowa. He settled in Sioux County, Ne- 
braska, in 1886 and took part in the organiza- 



tion of the county. He received his prepara- 
tory education in Port Byron Academy, New- 
York, and studied law in an office at Harrison 
Nebraska, and at the University of Nebraska. 
He was admitted to the bar before the Su- 
preme Court of Nebraska in ]S98. .Xugust 6, 
1899, he was married to Miss Emma "^Serre.s 
of Sioux County, and they have three children. 
Mr. O'Connell is Chairman of the Republican 
Central Committee in Sioux County and is 
serving his third term as County Attorney. 

ALEX LOWRY is a native of Illinois, hav- 
mg been born July 15, 1856, where he received 
a public school education. In the spring of 
1877 he came to Iowa and in 1892 homesteaded 
in Sioux County, Nebraska, where he has since 
resided. He was married to Miss Alice Cor 
win of Rockport, Illinois, in 1876, and thev 
have three children living. Mr. Lovvry has 
been elected for the third term as ShcriflF of 
Sioux County on the Fusion ticket. 

J. H. WILHERMSDOFER, Countv Tudge 
of Sioux County, is a native of Illinois! hav- 
ing been born in Henderson County, October 
16, 1867. In 1873 he came with his parents to 
Southwestern Iowa, and moved to Western 
Iowa in 1894. Mr. Wilhermsdofer came to 
Sioux County in 1901 and in 1904 took a home- 
stead under the Kinkaid law. He was married 
to Miss Zua Bowman in 1893 and they have 
one son. He is a watchmaker by trade and a 
Republican in politics, and is now the Judge 
of Sioux County. 

CARL M. LUX was bom in Germany, Feb- 
ruary 6, 1852. In 1883 he came to America 
and after working in Kansas one vear came 
to Butler County. Nebraska, and settled in 
Sioux County in 1881, homesteading there and 
engaging in farming and stock raising. His 
education was gained in the public schools of 
Germany. He was married to Miss Rena 
Feller of Sioux County in 1887 and they have 



330 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




G. M. LACY. J. H. WILHERMSDOFER. OARL M. LUX. E. F. PONTIUS. JOHN BORKY. 




CONRAD PARSONS 





ALEX LOWRY. 



Sioux County Court House. Photo by Geo. L. Gerlach 



seven children. He is associated with the 
Democratic party, was a Justice of the Peace 
for six years and is now serving his first term 
as County Treasurer of Sioux County. 

E. F. PONTIUS is a native of Ohio, having 
been born in Chillicothe, December 18, 1849. In 
1880 he came to Oakland, Nebraska, where he 
was employed as station agent for the North- 
western Railroad. Later he filled the same po- 
sition at Oakdale and Humphrey and in 1892 
was transferred to Harrison, where he has 
since lived. In 1873 he married Miss Belle 
Bloom of Shelby, Ohio, and they have four 
children. He homesteaded in Sioux County 
in 1901 and has mining interests in the Black 
Hills region, being the Vice-President, Secre- 
tary and Treasurer of the Lucky Hunters Min- 
ing Company. Mr. Pontius is a Republican 
and is serving his first term as County Clerk of 
the District Court. 



JOHN BORKY is a native Nebraskan, 
having been born in St. James, Cedar County, 
January 27, 1881. In 1888 he came to Sioux 
County, Nebraska, with his parents and took 
a homestead in 1902. He is a graduate of the 
Hozledell public schools and attended high 
school at Hot Springs, South Dakota, and the 
Junior Normal at Alliance, Nebraska. Mr. 
Borky is a Republican and is serving his first 
term as .Superintendent of Sioux County. He 
was formerly engaged in railroad work, but 
now has ranching interests aside from his du- 
ties as County Sviperintendent. His father 
homesteaded in Sioux County in 1888, being 
one of the earlv settlers. 

G. M. LACY. Deputy Sheriflf of Sioux 
County, was born in Canada, January 28, 1874, 
but lived there scarcely a year, removing with 
his parents to Story County, Iowa. In 1888 
they removed to Ida County, Iowa, and Mr. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



331 



Lacy settled in Sioux County, Nebraska, in 
1897. He took a homestead liere, but has been 
engaged in the livery business. He was mar- 
ried in 1900 to Miss Mabel Lowry of Harri- 
son, Nebraska, and they havp one son. His 
father took a homestead in Sioux County in 
1895. Mr. Lacy is a Democrat and is serving 
his second term as Deputy Sheriff of this 
county. 

CONRAD PARSONS was born in Clear- 
water, Nebraska, October 6, 1880, where he 
lived until his fifth year, when he came to 



Sioux County with his parents, his father hav- 
ing homesteaded and gone into ranching in 
this county. He attended Chadron Academy 
and the Wesleyan University, graduating frorn 
the Business Department of the latter institu- 
tion in 1901. He took a homestead in Sioux 
County under the Kinkaid law and has a ranch 
stocked with about one hundred head of cattle. 
Mr. Parsons is a Repul>lican, has been County 
Superintendent of Sioux County and is now 
serving his second vear as Deputy County 
Clerk. 



STANTON COUNTY. 



About two-thirds of the inhabitants of Stan 
ton are foreigners. The first foreign element 
consisted of Germans, who settled on the Hum- 
bug in the fall of ISfiS. The early settlers com- 
prised people from Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, 
Ohio, Illinois and New York. In 1881 the 
census showed 1,994 people, of which 700 were 
school children. The last census gives 6,959 
people and 2,699 school children. Stanton, the 
county capital, is i)opulated by 1,052 people. 
There are fifty-five school districts and an 
equal number of buildings, all of which are 
well furnished with supplies. The entire school 
property is estimated at $48,391.81. The ma- 
jority of the schools have a term lasting six to 
nine months. Stanton County was organized in 
1867 and is one of the smallest in the state, be- 
ing 432 square miles in area. The first settlers 
were Charles and Mitchell Sharp, who staked 
out their claims in the summer of 18G5 on Hum- 
bug Creek, after which they returned to Oma- 
ha. The Scott and Hoffman families came next, 
and they also chose a location on this creek. 
In 1869 George Graves started the first county 
store in this settlement. Ida Hoffman, born 
in 1867, was the first native of Stanton County. 
Lewis Ley, who came in 1871, was the first 
lawyer. The first fee he received was five 
pounds of sausage in return for clearing a 
client. The numerous streams cause a great 
variety of soil throughout the county, although 
a rich, black loam is the predominating kind. 
Eighty-six per cent is tillable, while the rest 
comprises a sandy strip south of the Elkhorn. 
The people are engaged in stock raising and 
mixed farming. There are 1,123 farms, and a 
large amount of money is expended in imple- 
ments and machinery. The value of land has 
doubled within the past few years. 



.\UGUST FUCHS was born in Germany, 
July 1, 1860. He came to Monee, Will County, 
Illinois, in 1866 and in the fall of 1870 removed 
with his parents to Fremont. Nebraska. He 
attended the Fremont public schools and the 
Fremont Normal, moved to Stanton, Nebraska, 
in 1889 and engaged in the hardware business.' 
He was elected County Treasurer of Stantor 
County in 1901 and re-elected to that office in 
1903. 

W. T. McFARLAND was born in Indian- 
apolis. Indiana, January 10, 1845, and came to 
Stanton County in 1868. He served three years 
in Company K, Tenth Indiana Infantry, and in 
1873 married Miss Adeline Robinson. He is 
affiliated with the Republican partv and has 
held the office of Postmaster practically from 
1881 to 1893, also Deputy Sheriff from 1898 to 
1900. lie is serving as Clerk of the District 
Court of Stanton County. 

W. H. HYLAND was born in Dodge 
County, Wisconsin, October 23, 1S6S. In 190C 
Mr. Ilyland settled in Stanton and on January 
1, 1903, married Miss Angle M. Beard. He 
was educated in the Fremont Normal and the 
Omaha Commercial Schools and took post- 
graduate work in the Fremont Normal in 1895 
and 1896. He is a member of the Democratic 
party and is now serving his second term as 
County Superintendent. 

ALBERT PILGER, the County Clerk of 
Stanton County, was born August 31, 1876. at 
Stanton, Nebraska. He is a merchant at Pil- 
ger, Nebraska, and his father, .Adam Pilger, 
was an early settler, coming here about 1870. 
He was also a merchant and was Treasurer of 
Stanton County for two terms. Mr. Pilger is 
a Democrat and was married to Pauline New- 
man June 2, 1903. 



332 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




IRVING N. \^NING. 






JOHN SCHINDLER. 




W. H. HTLAND. 



Stanton Countv Court House 



AUGUST FUCHS. 



N. F. KING was born October 19, 1860, at 
Springfield, Illinois. He came to Stanton in 
1892 and has been Chief of Police of Stanton 
for five years. He is serving his second term 
as County Sheriff and has charge of the water 
system of Stanton. Mr. King is associated 
with the Democratic party and was married to 
Estella Calkins, May 20, 1884. 

IRVING N. VINING was born in Wood- 
bine, Harrison County, Iowa. He has been a 
resident of Stanton, Nebra.ska, since 1887, and 
has been four times elected to the office of Pro- 
bate Judge. He is a member of the Demo- 



cratic party and was married September 24, 
1895, to Miss Delia E. Pelton. He has been en • 
gaged in the real estate, loan and insurance 
business during the past fifteen years. 

JOHN SCHINDLER was born in Ger- 
many, December 27, 1859. In 1886 he came to 
the L^nited States and after remaining at 
Hooper a short time settled in Stanton. In 
1884 he married Miss Fredericke Schmelzer in 
Germany. He is a Democrat in politics and 
has been City Treasurer a number of years. 
He holds the office of Mavor of Stanton. 



THAYER COUNTY. 



The surface of Thayer County is composed 
of rolling plain, except in the northeastern 
part, where there is some rough land. There 
are 576 square miles of land, 80 per cent of 
which is capable of being cultivated. Large 
quarries of building stone are worked along the 
Little Blue and Rose Creeks. The former 
stream has a very swift current and strong 



power. Water is so plentiful that every town- 
ship is drained. Corn is the principal crop 
grown on the 353,684 acres devoted to agricul- 
ture. Cherries, peaches, and plums are suc- 
cessfully grown. A good quality of brick clay 
supplies material for four brickyards, and there 
are also four flouring mills. For twenty-five 
years before its organization, in 1871, Thayer 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



333 




JAMES K. PERKY'. 




J M E "I nil 



1 



Thayer County CourtJHouse 




.1 A. BOTHWEI.L. 



County formed a part of the roadway over 
which thousands of western emigrants and 
Mormons passed. The Salt Lake ExpresS; 
which carried the first mail, was started in 
1858. The stations were fifty miles apart, and 
the "Express" consisted of a wagon and driver; 
drawn by six mules, and a "vvhipper-up," who 
rode horseback. Horace Greeley passed 
through the county in 1859, when the settle- 
ments consisted of trading ranches established 
along the trail. The first actual settlers were 
George W'eisel and John, Charles and William 
Nihgtingale, who located near Alexandria in 
1858. During the following year JosephWalker 
and James Reed settled on the Little Blue. 
While the Civil War was in progress settle- 
ments were made only at ranches. In 18G9 
Company A, First Nebraska Cavalry, was or- 
ganized and a stockade called Fort iJutler was 
erected. The settlers suffered greatly at the 
hands of the Sioux in their raid of ]8(>4. 
Thayer is the home of the woman's suffrage 
movement in Nebraska. Susan B. Anthony 
lectured here in 1877 and Mrs. Elizabeth Cady 
Stanton in 1879, at which time the Thayer 
County Woman's Suffrage Association was es- 
tablished. The county was organized in 1871, 
with 400 inhabitants. Its present population 
is 14,325, 1,511 of which reside at the county 



seat, Hebron. There are 5,259 school children 
and 101 schools. 

'WILLIAM L. WHITNEY, a Republican, 
and the County Judge of Thayer County, was 
born January 19, ISGl, at Groveland, Illinois. 
His father, Isaac S. Whitney, was a tailor. His 
mother's maiden name was Belle H. Allen. 
He removed from Illinois to Alexandria, Ne- 
braska, in September, 1886. He was educate^l 
in the common schools of Groveland, Illinois, 
and attended a business college and took a 
law course at Peoria, Illinois. 

J. A. BOTHWELL was born September 26, 
1855, at Albany, Illinois. He removed from 
Illinois to Fillmore County, Nebraska, in 1873 
and in 1891 he went to Bruning, Nebraska, as 
Cashier of the German Bank. He received a 
common school education and has followed the 
vocation of banking. His parents were Jere- 
miah and Sarah Bothwell. Mr. Bothwell is 
associated with the Republican party and is 
County Treasurer of Thayer County. 

CAL. R. PHILLIPn, the County Superin- 
tendent of Thayer County, was born June 26, 
1870, in Pennsylvania. His father, Daniel Phil- 
lippi, was a farmer. Mr. Phillippi came to 
Thayer County in April, 1892, where he has 
followed teaching as his profession. He was 
educated in the common and high schools and 



334 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



attended the State Normal in Pennsylvania. 

JAMES A. SNYDER, the Clerk of the Dis- 
trict Court of Thayer County, was born Sep- 
tember 3, 1857, at Somerset, Pennsylvania. 
Solomon Snyder, his father, was a farmer. Mr. 
Snyder came to Nebraska in 1875, engaging in 
farmnig and stock raising; also teaching 
school. He has a common school education. 
He was railway mail clerk on the Union Pa- 
cific from Council Bluffs to Cheyenne for 
twenty-seven months. He is a Populist, and 



was Sheriff of Thayer County for four years. 
JAMES K. PERRY was born in Marshall 
County, Illinois, March 4, 1845. He came to 
Nebraska in 1883 and engaged in farming and 
stock raising in Jefferson and Thayer Counties 
Mr. Perry served in the Eleventh Illinois In- 
fantry tJiree years and was all through the 
siege of Vicksburg, Spanish Fort and Blakely. 
His father *vas a farmer. Mr. Perry, a Repub- 
lican, has been precinct assessor for a number 
of years and was elected as County Assessor. 



THOMAS COUNTY. 



Thomas County was organized in 1887 with 
an area of 720 square miles. It has a popula- 
tion of 028 people and Thedford is the county 
seat. The surface is undulating, being made 
up of level land, valleys and sandhills. Middle 
Loup River and Dismal Creek are the princi- 
pal streams. The wells vary in depth from 
15 to 120 feet. It is this abundant supply of 
water, together with the good grazing land, 
which makes Thomas a stock raising county. 
Large herds of cattle, horses and sheep cover 
the 'prairies. These animals are constantly 
.^rowing in value, thereby increasing the de- 
mand for ranches. The county has six^ dis- 
tricts and an equal number' of schools. There 
are 192 children of school age. The salaries 
paid to teachers are among the highest in the 
state, and the total school property amounts 
to $3,377. Hay is the principal product, while 
potatoes, vegetables and some small grain are 
raised. The county has 33.30 miles of rail- 
way. , 

C. C. WRIGHT is one of the oldest settlers 
of Thomas County, having been detailed by 
Governor Thayer in 1887, to organize Thomas 
County. He was born September 21, 1836, in 
Indiana. From Indiana he moved to Hender- 
son County, Illinois. He enlisted for three 
years during the Civil War in Company C, 
Ninety-first Illinois. In 1871 he homesteaded 
in Fillmore County. His business has been 
that of a contractor and carpenter. He is 
County Judge of Thomas County and is affil- 
iated with the Populist party. In 1855 he mar- 
ried Miss Angeline Mark, but she died in 1880 
He makes a specialty of cultivating grass, and 
was appointed by the state commission to col- 
lect grasses for the St. Louis Exposition, to 
which he sent a collection of 280 varieties. 



Besides his present office, he has been Justice 
of the Peace for ten years and also County 
Commissioner. 

C. V. REMY was born November 17. 1858. 
in Vinton County, Ohio, from which State he 
moved with his parents to Iowa in 1865. After 
living there seven years he removed to Seward 
County, Nebraska, then to Montana for six 
years and finally back to Seward County. He 
located in Thomas County in 1899, where he is 
engaged in ranching. He was Sheriff and a 
member of the Seward County Board for four 
and two years, respectively, and is now serving 
his first term as County Commissioner of 
Thomas County. He is affiliated with the Re- 
publicans. In 1888 he married Miss Alice Car- 
penter of Wayne County, Iowa. 

JOHN H. Evans was engaged in newspa- 
per work about seven years, but is now a prac- 
ticing lawyer of Thedford, Nebraska. He was 
born March 21, 1851, at Burlington, Iowa. 
From this state he moved to Nebraska in 1883 
and first located at Ord. The next year he 
moved to Loup County and in 1890 to Thed- 
ford, Thomas County. The official positions 
which he has held are Judge of Loup County, 
Attorney of Thomas County for twelve years 
c.nd also Chairman of the Republican Central 
Committee of that county. He is now County 
Attorney, and in 1877 was married to Miss Lu- 
setta J. Norris of Iowa. 

E. D. ROBERTS was born in England. Jan- 
uary 21, 1870. His parents, John and Eliza- 
beth Roberts, reside at Sutton, Nebraska, 
where they settled upon coming to the state in 
1880. In 1893 Mr. Roberts graduated from 
the Sutton High School. He was engaged in 
the banking business before entering upon 
his official duties in 1901. This is his second 



COtJNTY HISTORY. 



335 




C. C. WRIGHT. CHRIS FRITZ WILLIAM M. WALTERS C. E. WEST. JOHN H. EVANS. 




Thomas County Court House 



term as County Clerk and Clerk of the Dis- 
trict Court in Thomas County. He home- 
steaded in this county in 1903, and was en- 
gaged in ranching for a time. He is a member 
of the Republican party. 

CIIRIS FRITZ was born at Erie, Pennsyl- 
vania. May 10, 1859. In 1862 his parents 
moved to Iowa, where his father died. He 
moved to Cherry County, Nebraska, in 188G, 
where he lived before coming to Thomas 
County, in 1900. His occupation was that of 
a ranchman until elected County Surveyor, in 
1901. He held this office .for two years, and is 
now serving his first term as County Treas- 



urer. Politically he is a Populist. He was 
married November 23, 1896, to Mary E. 
Cooper. 

NELLIE Z. VANDLING was a graduate 
o( P.ucknell Institute, Levvisburg, Pennsylva- 
nia, in 18!);i. She was horn in Nortliumberland 
County of that State, came with her parents 
to Abbott, Ha;i County, Nebraska, in 1897, 
and two years later to her present home at 
Seneca. She was Principal of the Seneca 
schools in 1903 and 1904 and was also elected 
Principal at Thedford. She is now Superin- 
tendent of Public Instruction in Thomas 
County. 



336 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



J. S. MILROY was born September 5, 1875, 
in Oneida, Illinois. His father, A. Milroy, was 
a farmer. The family removed from Illinois to 
Clav County, Nebraska, where Mr. Milroy was 
engaged in farming for several years. When 
he became of age he and his brother went into 
the livery business, which occupation he pur- 
sued until he came to this section of the State. 
where he was elected County Surveyor of 
Thomas County. He now resides in Blaine 
Countv, where he was married, and is now en- 
gaged' in stock raising and farming. He has 
about three thousand acres under his jurisdic- 
tion. 

JOHN W. CARNEY is the oldest settler 
and father of the first white child born in the 
county. Born in Philadelphia, April 18^ 185(), 
his parents moved to Washington, D. C, and 
lived there until after the war. They then 
came to Chicago and were living there in 1871. 
Carney moved to McPherson County, Kansas, 
and homesteaded for a time; then moved to 
Southern Texas until 1878. During that year 
he came to Nebraska and landed in Thomas 
County, and in 18SG took a homestead. He 
made a preliminary survey for the Burling- 
ton and Missouri Railroad and has since been 
in their employ, and is now foreman of the 
round-house at Seneca. He has been Justice 
of the Peace and County Commissioner for two 
terms. He is affiliated with the Democratic 
party. 

C. E. WEST has been Postmaster at Thed- 
ford since November of 1897. Mr. West was 



born in a sod house at York, Nebraska, Augfust 
11, 1871. He moved with his parents to Bro- 
ken Bow in 1883 and came to Thomas County 
in 1888, which has since been his home. He 
has been in the newspaper business at Thed- 
ford. His wife, whom he married in March of 
1900, was Mrs. May Dill-Brown of Thedford 
He is afiiliated with the Republican party. 

J. M. McMillan is a native of Washing- 
ton County, Pennsylvania, where he was born 
I'ebruary 18, 1864. He moved to the eastern 
part of Nebraska in 1883 and farther west the 
following year. He located in Thomas County 
in 1886, at which time he took the homestead 
which he still holds. He is proprietor of a 
general merchandise store at Thedford and is 
also interested in ranching. In 1890, on the 
9th of October, he was married to Miss Anna 
F. Franklin of Cass County. He served as 
County Treasurer of Thomas during four 
terms. He is a Republican. 

WILLIAM M. WALTERS was educated in 
the common schools and the State Normal of 
Pennsylvania, where he was born in Cumber- 
land County on the 9th of March, 1848. He 
taught school in I'ennsylvania before coming 
west. In 1880 he settled in Clay County, Ne- 
braska, where he was made Deputy Treasurer. 
He homesteaded in this county in 1889, but 
sold the land and moved to his present home 
near Thedford in 1890. He has held the offices 
of Commissioner, Treasurer and Judge of 
Thomas County, and is an Independent voter. 
He was married to JNliss Nancy A. Austin of 
Clay County in 1881. 



THURSTON COUNTY. 



Seventy-five per cent of Thurston County 
is good land, aiid capable of cultivation. The 
remainder is rough, yet suitable for grazing. 
The principal occupations are agriculture and 
stock raising. Corn and spring wheat cover 
the greater part of the 214,151 acres included 
in farming land. The raising of sugar beets as 
an industry is just in its beginning. Small 
grain, corn and alfalfa are successfully raised, 
and timbers, fruit and vegetables are found 
everywhere. Farming land has increased one- 
fourth in value recently. The county has a 
deep, black soil with an under layer of clay. 
The best farm land is worth from $60 to $75 
Farm land of average quality sells at prices 
ranging from $25 to $45 an acre. The eastern 



part of the county is washed by the Missouri. 
Thurston occupies 398 square miles and pos- 
sesses 16.88 miles of railway. Pender, the 
county capital, has 943 people. County or- 
ganization took place in 1889 and the present 
census shows a population of 8,756. The value 
of live stock in 1900 was $1,320,393. Two flour 
and grist mills are operated here. There are 
twenty-three school districts and twenty-seven 
miles of unorganized territory. The majority 
of the schools have terms of nine months or 
more. There is one graded school which em- 
ploys nine teachers. There are 2,187 school 
children. 

HIRAM CHASE,' County Attorney, was 
born September 9, 1861, on the Omaha In- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



337 





W. l-'ANSl.KK 



CI.ArSSKN. 




HIRAM CHASE. 



dian reservation. His father, Hiram Chase, 
was an interpreter and a post trader among the 
Omaha Indians, having come to Nebraska in 
1854. Mr. Chase, Jr., came to Pender, Ne- 
braska, in 1891, where he has had a flourishing 
practice for sixteen years. He graduated from 
Zielinople College, I'ennsylvania, in 1879, and 
from the Cincinnati Law School in 1889. He 
served one term as Judge of Thurston County. 
He was married to Miss Cynthia Snyder in 
1884, and they have seven children. Mr. Chase 
is a Republican, and has taken a deep interest 
in controversies arising out of Indian affairs. 
He is one of the council with the tribe in their 
■dealings with the Government. 

O. D. ALDRICH was born in Cedar Rapids, 
Iowa, October 4, 1864. He came to Di.xon 
County, Nebraska, in 1871, with his parents, 
his father taking a homestead. In 1880 he 
moved to Waketicid, Nebraska, and in 1885 to 
Pender, his present home. In 1886 he was 
married to Miss Dora .Abbott, and they have 
two sons. Mr. Aldrich, a Republican, has been 
elected as County Treasurer for the second 
term. Prior to this he was a railroad agent. 
He was educated in the Ponca public schools 



;in<l his father was one of the early settlers of 
Xnrthcastern Nebraska. 

L. W. FANSLER, the County Clerk and 
e lerk of the District Court, came to Pender, 
Nebraska, July 19, 1887. He was born Au- 
gust 25, 1850, in Indiana. His father was a 
miller and Mr. Fanslcr is a dealer in hardware 
and implements. He was educated in the pub- 
li'- schools of Colfax, Iowa, and at Hazeldell 
College, Newton, Iowa. Mr. Pansier came to 
Jasper County, Iowa, in 1861, going from there 
lo (Juthric County in 1881. In 1883 he moved 
to Wilkes Cou^ity, Kansas, and to Colorado in 
ISS6. He has been a member of tlie town and 
school board and Mayor of Pender. He was 
married August, 1885, to Miss Dora B. Combs. 

S. M. YOUNG, one of the first to settle on 
the present site of Pender. Nebraska, was born 
in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, November 
v'.'i, 1863. He came to Iowa with his parents in 
1866 and then to Washington County, Ne- 
braska in 1881. In 1885 he came to Pender, 
.Nebraska, where he is engaged in the livery 
business. Mr. Young is a Republican and 
Sherifif of Thurston Countv. He was married 
March 11, 1897, to Miss Ha'nna Olson, and they 
lave two children. He received his education 
in the common schools of Iowa. 

CRATO A. WIPPERN was born in St. 
Louis, Missouri, December 3, 1871. His father, 
Adolphus Wippern. was a banker. Mr. Wip- 
pern is a graduate of the Normal Training 
.School of St. Louis and took a special course 
in mathematics at the State School of Rolla, 
Missouri. His profession is that of a book- 
keeper. He was married June 11, 1900. He 
came to Pender, Nebraska, in October, 1899, 
which is his present home. Mr. Wippern is as- 
sociated with the Democratic party and is 
County Superintendent of Thurston County. 

T. E. POLLOCK, the first County Assessor 
of Thurston County, was born at Walnut 
(Irove, Henderson County, Illinois, December 
27, 1861. Mr. Pollock has been engaged in 
farming in Thurston County since 1886, where 
he took a claim at that time. Prior to this 
he had lived in Potawattomie County, Iowa, 
locating there in the spring of 1873. His 
father, J. B. Pollock, was also a farmer. Mr. 
Pollock was educated in the public schools of 
Iowa and at Big Grove, Iowa. He married 
.Miss Agnes Rose in 1890, who died January 
16, 1903. They have three daughters living, 
having lost two of their children." Mr. Pollock 
has a farm of 160 acres three miles west of 
Pender, and is associated with the Democratic 
party. 



338 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



J. D. CLAUSSEN was born in Germany, 
December 26, 1857. His father, J. D. Claus- 
sen, was a farmer. In 1884 Mr. Claussen came 
to Dodge C(5unty, Nebraska, where he farmed 
for fifteen years. He went to Pender in 1900, 
where he now resides as a retired farmer. He 
received his education in the public schools of 
Germany. He was married to Miss Meta Hine- 
man in 1885 and they have one girl. Mr. 
Claussen is the owner of 240 acres of land. He 
is a Republican and is serving his first term 
as Commissioner of Thurston County. 

F. B. RHODA, who is extensively engaged 
in farming and stock raising, has resided in 
Thurston County since 188G, coming here from 
Colorado. He was born in Germany, Decem- 
ber 1, 1867, and came to Wisconsin in 1884. 
His father, Frank, was a farmer. Mr. Rhoda 
was educated in the public and private schools 



of Germany, taking a college course at the lat- 
ter. He was married in 1895 to Miss Nora Mc- 
Nullen. They have five children, three daugh- 
ters and two sons. Mr. Rhoda, a Republican, 
has been school director and is now one of the 
County Commissioners of Thurston County. 

GUY T. GRAVES, Judge of the Eighth Ju- 
dicial District of Nebraska, was born in Butler 
County, Iowa, September 17, 1863. Theron H. 
Graves, his father, was a farmer. Mr. Graves 
came from Harrison County, Iowa, to Thurs- 
ton County, Nebraska, in 1884. His profession 
is that of the law. He was educated in the 
common schools and state normal of Iowa, and 
studied law in the office of Mel C. Jay, at Da- 
kota City, Nebraska. He served as County 
Superintendent of Dakota County and was the 
first County Attorney of Thurston County. Mr. 
Graves is a Democrat. 



VALLEY COUNTY. 



Valley County was organized in 1873 and it 
has a population of 7,339 people. Ord, the 
county seat, has 1,372 inhabitants. The first 
settlement was located on the west side of 
North Loup in 1872, and was composed of 
Danes, who had emigrated from Wisconsin. 
These men were Peter Mortensen, Nels An- 
derson, George Miller, Jeppe Smith, Christ 
Frey and Fall Miller and family. The next 
settlement was made on the present site of 
North Loup by Seventh-Day Baptists, who 
were also from Wisconsin. Their purpose in 
coming to Nebraska was to locate on a frontier 
where there was plenty of room to form a 
large colony of their own sect, unmolested by 
Sunday worshipers. During 1873 and 1874 
immigration was quite constant, although the 
grasshopper pest was a severe trial for the 
early settlers. The first school was taught by 
Miss Kate Badger in a log schoolhouse in the 
spring of 1873. There are now sixty-three 
schools, forty-nine of which have a term of six 
to nine months. Four schoolhouses have been 
built recently and the entire school property 
is worth nearly $59,000. Farm land occupies 
311,273 acres of the 576 square miles included 
in the county. Cereals and alfalfa are the prin- 
cipal crops, while fruits and vegetables are 
profitably grown. Stock raising is a leading 
industry, hoes being the principal live stock 
marketed. The county is very well watered by 



North and Middle Loup Rivers and their trib- 
utaries. The bottom lands are exceedingly fer- 
tile and are ten miles broad in some places. 
There is a very abrupt ascent from the valleys 
to the uplands, resulting in steep bluffs and 
hills, cut b}- canyons. Land has increased in 
value 33 per cent recently. The first bridge 
was built in 1874 across the North Loup. Be- 
fore this communication was almost entirely 
cut off between the dwellers on the east and 
west side of the river because fording was dan- 
gerous. In 1876 Fort HartsufT was erected at 
a great cost to the Government. 

ALTA B. JONES was born February 11, 
1877, in Warren County. Illinois. She moved 
to Missouri in 1879 and came to Valley County 
in 1887, where her father homesteaded. She 
was educated in the Ord schools and gradu- 
ated from that high school in 1893, since which 
time she has taught every year in Nebraska 
schools with the exception of one year in Col- 
orado. She lias attended summer school at 
the State University, at (Irand Island, at Fre- 
mont and at Drake University of Des Moines, 
Iowa. She is County Superintendent and is 
Republican in politics. 

JOHN KOKES located in Valley County in 
1880, at which time his father took a home- 
stead. Earlier in the year he had emigrated 
to the Ignited States from Bohemia, where he 
was born March 16, 1864. Farming is his oc- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



339 







JOHN KOKES. 



M. L. McNUTT. 



H. GUDMUNDSEN. 



VINCENT KOKES. 




A. M. ROBBINS. 




HRMAN WESTOVER. 




])artnersliip with liis brother. He is County 
Attorney and was elected on the Republican 
ticket. On January 28, 1900, he was married 
to Adelheid Rcitbardt. 

ALVIN P.LESSINr, was born December 
11, 1871, at LaCiranije, Michij^an, from which 
^tate he came to Ord, Nebraska, in 1880. His 
father homestcaded here and still has the land 
in his possession. Mr. Blessine^ has a ranch of 
640 acres near Ord. which is stocked with cat- 



Valley County Court House 

cupation, althnugh he now holds the office of 
County .ShcritT and is servin<j^ his second term. 
He was married in 1894 to Rosa Petska of Val- 
ley County, who died in 1001. His present 
wife was Barbara Petska. lie has one son and 
four daughters. 

ARTHUR A. CLEMENTS was born March 
20, 18r0, in .\llc<:an County, Michigan, whence 
he came to his present home at Ord, Ncbraskn. 
in 1893. He studied law in the office of his 
brothers at Ord and was admitted to the bar in 
ls;i7. He is now practicing his profession ir 

tie principally. He is 




ALVIN BLESSING. 




CHARLES J. NELSON. 



holding the office of 
County Clerk for the second term and is also 
Chairman of the Republican Central Commit- 
tee of Valley County. In the fall of 189;! he 
was married to Mi.'is Clemmie Hull. 
. H. C,UI>MI'N1)SEN served in the Spanish- 
.American War as Captain of Company B, Sec- 
ond Ncbra.ska Volunteer Infantry. Born in 
Denmark May 27, 1859. In 1879 he emigrated 
to Canada, one year later moved to Wyoming 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



and came in 1887 to Nebraska. He has a col- 
lege education and now holds the office of 
County Judge. Previously he was Deputy 
County Clerk, Clerk of the District Court for 
eight years, and Superintendent of the Sho- 
shone and Arapahoe Indian School in Wy- 
oming. He is a Republican. He married Miss 
K. Jensen in 1885. She is now deceased. 

W. L. McNUTT is a stockman of Ord, Ne- 
braska, especially interested in the raising of 
blooded animals, and is owner of the Elm 
Creek Stock Farm. He came to Ord in the 
spring of 1889 from Muscatine, Iowa, where he 
was born, March 1, 1861. He attended the 
University of Missouri at Columbia and was 
graduated in 1883. He was married in 1881 
to Miss Carrie I. Brand of Iowa. In politics 
he is Republican and is now serving his second 
term as County Treasurer. 

KIT CARSON is Deputy County Clerk of 
Valley County. He was bom in Kewanee, Illi- 
nois, January 26, 1872. From Illinois he came 
to Nebraska in 188.3 and located at Ord. He 
acquired his education at the Ord High School 
and at the Northern Indiana Normal at Val- 
paraiso. He was married in March of 1895, 
and his wife was Miss Ella Millard. His father 
served three years in the Civil War, having 
been enlisted in the 121th Illinois Infantry. 

VINCENT KOKES was born March 16, 
1866, in Bohemia, and came to America in 
1881 and settled at Ord. For about twelve 
years he was engaged in the drug business un- 
til his election as County Clerk, which office 
he held for six years. He has been Cashier of 
the Ord State Bank for the past five years and 
has some land interests. He is affiliated with 
the Republican party. His wife was Miss 
Lydia Ledvina, whom. he married in 1893. 

A. M. ROBBINS and Mr. Haskell laid 
out the town of Ord in 1880, having surveyed 
it four years earlier. On the 5th of March, 



1849, he was born in McHenry County, Illinois. 
He attended Pawpaw Seminary of Illinois and 
studied law in an office at Dixon. Being ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1875, he came to Nebraska 
to practice, and first located in Sarpy County 
at Papillion. In 1881 he moved to his present 
lome in Valley County. For three years he 
was attorney of unorganized territory by ap- 
pointment, was City Attorney and State Sena- 
tor from this district in 1886 and 1887. He is 
a Republican, and in 1873 was married to Miss 
Cvnthia Haskell. 

'HERMAN WESTOVER was born at On- 
tario, Canada, February 27, 1818. He removed 
to Wisconsin in 1861, to Minnesota in 1862, 
and to Valley County, Nebraska, in the fall of 
1876. He acquired his education at the high 
school and State Normal of Nankato, Minne- 
sota. He studied in an office at Nankato and 
was admitted to the bar in 1877. In 1862 he 
was an eye witness of the Indian Massacre in 
Minnesota and served in the State militia in 
defense. The offices which he has held are 
those of County Superintendent, County Judge 
and member of the twenty-first session of the 
State Legislature. He is now Commissioner of 
the Board of Insanity and is allied with the Re- 
publican party. In 1873 he married Miss Ab- 
bie DeWolf of Minnesota. 

CHARLES J. NELSON was born in Ystad, 
Sweden, January 28, 1850. He came with 
his parents to C)malia. Nebraska, in 1862, where 
he resided for thirteen years. He received his 
education in Sweden and the Omaha schools, 
and learned the tailor trade while living in 
Omaha. In 1875 he came to Valley County 
and filed on a homestead, on which he still re- 
sides. He was married in 1895 to Miss Flora 
A. Ward of Mira Creek. Nebraska. Mr. Nel- 
son was elected County Surveyor first in 1881 
and has held that office most of the time since. 
In 1903 was re-elected Surveyor by the Repub- 
lican party. 



WASHINGTON COUNTY. 



Washington County is composed of uplands 
and valleys, the soil of the bottoms varying 
from four to twenty feet in depth, and very 
fertile. Land here is very high. There are 
many groves and orchards and natural timber 
grows along the water courses. The valleys 
jyl the Missouri and Elkhom rivers and of Bell 



Creek vary from one to seven miles in width, 
and there is running water in every township. 
I'arming, dairying, stock raising, fruit culture 
and market gardening occupy the attention of 
the people. The tame hay crop comprises tim- 
othy, clover, Hungarian and alfalfa, and the 
cereals are the principal crops. There are 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



341 




E. B. CARRIGAN. Iv Z. RIJSSEL. A, L. COOK. 



\V. H. HILL. 



CLAUS MENCKE. 




Washington County Court House. Photo by Mangold 



1,572 farms, and $159,820 was expended for 
labor during a recent year. Washington was 
organized as a county in 1855 and its popula- 
tion is 13,08G. Blair, the county scat, has 2,970 
people. The manufacturing industry consists 
of four flour mills and six Ijrickyards. The 
first white men to visit the county were prob- 
ably Captains- Lewis and Clarke with their 
party. They put themselves on a friendly 
footing with the Missouri and Otoe Indians, 
who then claimed this region, by means of a 
council, held at Fort Calhoun, in the southern 
part of the county. In the summer of 1859 the 
Indians roljbcd a lone settler named Uriah 
Thomas of $13(5 in money, besides other valua- 
bles, and left him locked in his cabin. The set- 
tlers were so enraged at this that they insti- 



tuted a hunt for the criminals, which resulted 
in the Pawnee War. The settlers got the bet- 
ter of the savages in these skirmishes and there 
was no great bloodshed. There are 4,011 chil- 
dren of school age in the county, and si.xty- 
three schools, seven of which are graded. 

F.. Z. RUSSFLL was born in Rockport, Ne- 
braska, December 15, 18()6, from which place 
he removed with his parents to Omaha in 
1877. He received his education in the public 
schools and was then employed by the Stand- 
ard Oil Company as bookkeeper, from which 
position he resigned to engage in farming in 
1888. He is a breeder of swine and is .Secre- 
tary of the Improved Live Stock Breeders' 
.Association. Mr. Russell is a member of the 



342 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Republican party and is serving as County 
Treasurer of Washington County. 

GEORGE FABER was born in New Or- 
leans, Louisiana, April 13, 1S60. His father, 
George L. Faber, was a brick mason. He 
moved to Auburn, Nebraska, in 1887 and to 
Blair in 1891. He received his education in 
New Orleans and has been engaged in the 
marketing of meat. He married Miss Eliza- 
beth Bohs in 1895. Mr. Faber is a Democrat 
and has served two terms as County Treas- 
urer, being now the County Clerk of Washing- 
ton County. 

THEO. HALLER was born in East Troy, 
Wisconsin, August 10, 1842. He came to Blair, 
Nebraska, in 1874 and has been engaged in the 
general merchandise business for thirty years. 
Jacob Haller, his father, was a tanner. Mr 
Haller was educated in the public schools of 
Wisconsin and in Quincy College, Quincy, 
Illinois. He has been Mayor of Blair, sixteen 
years Secretary of the Board of Education and 
County Commissioner. He was appointed 
Clerk of the District Court to fill an unexpired 
term and has been elected to the office once 
since. In 1874 he married Miss Grace Mor- 
gan. They have two daughters and two sons 
living, having lost two daughters 

CLAUS MENCKE, an old settler of Wash- 
ington County, ha\ing taken a homestead 
there, was born April 7, IS.'iO, in Germany. He 
came to Washington County, Nebraska, in 
1869, where he engaged in farming. His 
father, Henry Mencke, was a tanner. He at- 
tended the public and private schools of Ger- 
many. Mr. Mencke is a Democrat, has been 
Deputy Sheriff of Washington County, and is 
now serving his sixth term as Sheriff of the 
county. He was married in 1874 to Miss Tina 
Rathman. They have seven children, five 
boys and two girls. 

G. C. MARSHALL, a Democrat, now serv- 
ing his second term as Judge of Washington 
County, and also served two terms as Countv 
Superintendent, was the son of John Marshall, 
a farmer and stock dealer. He was born in 



Ohio, September 15, 1858, and came to Wash- 
ington County in 1896. He married Miss Sadie 
M. Williams, February 5, 1891, and they have 
two daughters. Mr. Marshall, a lawyer, was 
educated in Northern Ohio L'niversity at Ada, 
Ohio, graduating from the scientific course in 
1892 and from the law course in 1895. 

A. L. COOK was born January 5, 1875, in 
Clayton County, Iowa, and came to Washing- 
ton County, Nebraska, with his parents in the 
same year, where he has since resided. His 
father, E. M. Cook, was a farmer and one of 
the early settlers of Washington County, al- 
though he did not take a homestead. Mr. 
Cook attended the Fremont Normal College 
and graduated from the law school of the State 
L'niversity in 1895. Mr. Cook is a Republican 
and was elected for the second time as County 
Superintendent of Washington County. 

E. B. CARRIGAN was born in De Soto, 
Washington County, Nebraska. November 5. 
1867. His father, John Carrigan, a lawyer, 
came to Nebraska in 1867, and located in 
Washington County, remaining there until his 
death in 1880. Mr. Carrigan was educated in 
the Blair high school, and at Shenandoah, 
Iowa, in the Western Normal College. He 
has served three terms as Deputy Sheriff, as 
City Attorney, and five years as County At- 
torney, which office he is now occupying. He 
was married to Miss Frances Lawson and they 
have three children, one son and two daugh- 
ters. 

W. H. HILL, who has been surveyor of 
Washington County since 1882, was bom in 
Osceola, Pennsylvania, January 16, 1846. E. 
R. Hill, his father, was a farmer. Mr. Hill 
moved to Newman Covmty, Indiana, in 18G3 
and came to Nebraska in 1S6S. His schooling 
was received in Osceola, Pennslyvania and the 
Commercial College of Oberlin, Ohio. He is 
a Republican and has . been city engineer. 
Washington and Dole are towns laid out by 
him while serving as County Surveyor. In 
the sj^iring of 1874 he married Miss Lizzie 
Wentworth and thev have five children. 



WAYNE COUNTY. 



The pioneer settlers of Wayne County were 
B. F. Whitten and Mr. Bean, who took claims 
near the Logan in 1868. In the spring of 1869 
Mr. Whitten and William Jones came with 



their families, thus becoming the first perma- 
nent settlers. The county was organized in 
1870 and is now the home of 9,862 citizens. 
The county seat is Wayne, with 2,119 inhabi- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



34<J 







H. E. SIMAN. 



CHARLES W. REYNOLDS. 



THOMAS II. HOI.TZ 



J. R. RrSSEI.l,, 




C. H. BRIGHT. 





GRANT S. MEARS. 



Wayne County Court House 



tants. The first school was started in 18T1 at 
LaPorte, with Miss Jane Olin as teacher. In 
IHH-i there were 18 districts, 1(1 schools and 
341 children of school age. At present there 
are SO districts, 81 schools, and 3,G30 school 
children. Nebraska Normal College is located 
at Wayne and there are four graded schools 
in the county. The first postofifice was built 
near the I.ogan in 1S70 and William .Agler was 
api)ointcd Postmaster. Patience Hunter has 
the honor of being the first native of Wayne 
County. In the early days, a great part of the 
land belong to non-residents, who held it so 
high tliat immigration was checked. At pres- 
ent this county has some of the highest priced 
land in the state. The most desirable farm 



land sells for $80 an acre, and no land is less 
than $;3.5. The prices are at an increase of 
ihrec-fifths on the values of a few years ago, 
and about 400 transfers of farms have been 
made recently. The surface is mainly upland, 
some of the hills in the western part rising to 
an elevation of 100 feet. Apples, plums, cher- 
ries, grapes and small fruits are successfully 
grown. The principal crops are the cereals, 
vegetables and several kinds of lame hay. 
Ouite an extensive acreage is planted to sugar 
beets. The clay found here furnishes three 
brick yards with material. The live stock of a 
recent year was valued at $1,960,()5(). 

O. H. KITHL, Clerk of the District Court of 
Wayiie County, was born May 15, 1873 in 



344: 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Neola, Iowa. He went to Cedar County, Ne- 
braska, about ISrC and in 1900 came to Wayne 
Countv, his present home. He received a com- 
mon school education and has been engaged 
in the drug business. His father was a har- 
ness maker. Mr. Kuhl served two years as 
Deputy Clerk of the District Court and two 
vears as Deputy Sheriff of Cedar County. He 
'is a Republican and in 1894 married Miss 
Stella Koch and they have one son. 

H. E. SIMAN was born September 20, 1869, 
at Winnebago City, Minnesota. He moved to 
Wicsonsin in 1884 ; to Sioux City, Iowa, in 
1889 and came to Winside, Nebraska, in 1898, 
his present home, where he has a flourishing 
law practice in Wayne and neighboring coun- 
ties. He was elected Attorney of Wayne 
County in the fall of 1902, belonging to the 
Republican party. In 1889 Mr. Siman was 
married to Miss May B. Sullivan and they 
have two sons. He was educated in the com- 
mon and high schools of Minnesota and Wis- 
consin and attended the Business College at 
LaCrosse, Wisconsin. He took a law course 
at Morning Side College, Sioux City, Iowa, 
and was Street Commissioner of that city from 
1895 to 1897. 

GRANT S. MEARS, now serving his second 
term as Sheriff of Wayne County, was born 
October 2, 18G5, in Poweshiek County, Iowa. 
Peter Mears, his father, was a farmer. Mr. 
Mears came to Wayne County, Nebraska, in 
1879, where he has been engaged in the real 
estate and insurance business. His schooling 
was received in the public schools of Iowa and 
Nebraska. Mr. Mears is a Republican and has 
been an assessor. He married jNIiss Sadie E. 
Glazier in 1888 and has two sons, aged thir- 
teen and ten. 

E. HUNTER, who is now serving his fourth 
term as County Judge of Wayne County, was 
born May 19, 1843, in Jefferson County, Penn- 
sylvania. His parents moved to Lee County, 
Illinois, in 1854 and remained there until the 
spring of 1870, when they came to Wayne 
County, Nebraska, being among the first to 
settle there. Mr. Hunter was educated in the 
common schools of Pennsylvania and Illinois. 
During the Civil War he served in Company I 
of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry from May 28, 
1862 to June 28, 1866. In 1867 he married 
Miss Rebecca Scott and they are the parents 
of ten children. Mr. Hunter is a Republican 
and served four years as County Clerk and two 
years as Deputy Treasurer. 



C. H. BRIGHT was born November 15, 
1869 in Indiana. He came to Grand Island, 
Nebraska, in January, 1884, where he re- 
mained on a farm west of Grand Island until 
1892, when he went to Wayne, Nebraska, to 
attend school. He took the Teacher's and 
Scientific courses at the Nebraska- Normal Col- 
lege, Wayne, and holds a professional life state 
certificate. He Vas principal of the Winside 
schools five years and Superintendent of 
^^'avne County two terms, which position he 
now holds. He is a Republican. In August, 
1808, he married Miss Anna Byrne, an instruc- 
tor in the Wavne Normal College. 

J. M. CHERRY was born August 16, 1861, 
at Iowa City, Iowa. He came to Wayne 
County, Nebraska, in 1883, but has lived in 
Platte County, Nebraska, two years of the 
time since. Mr. Cherry was educated in the 
common schools of Iowa and is a carpenter. 
He has been Sheriff and Deputy Clerk of 
Wayne County and is the present County 
Treasurer. He is a Democrat and was mar- 
ried to Miss Edith Alears in 1886. 

CHARLES ^^^ Reynolds, one of the 

youngest men to hold a county office in the 
state, was elected Clerk of the District Court 
of Wayne County at the age of twenty-three. 
He was born at Elkader, Iowa, September 5, 
1876, and came to Wayne County in 1888. He 
is associated with the Democratic party, is a 
graduate of the Wayne high school and at- 
tended the Wayne Normal College, also the 
University of Nebraska for two years. Mr. 
Revnolds is at present County Clerk. 

THOMAS H. HOLTZ was born January 
29, 1880, at Parkhill, Ontario, Canada. John 
Holtz, his father, was a tailor. He came to 
Wayne County in 1889 where^Hie has been a 
printer and clerk in a grocery house. He is a 
Democrat and was educated in the Wayne 
high school and is single. He is now serving 
as Deputy Clerk of Wayne County. 

E. W. CULLEN, the Chairman of the Board 
of County Commissioners of Wayne County, 
was born August 14, 1865 at Peoria, Illinois. 
He went to Western Illinois in 1868, to Colfax 
County, Nebraska, in 1886 and came to Wayne 
County in 1888, where he has resided ever 
since. He is an implement dealer at Winside 
and has been chairman of the town board of 
Winside for the last twelve years. Mr. Cullen 
is associated with the Democratic party. He 
was married to Miss Katie E. Hayes in 1891 
and they have four children. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



345 



J. R. RUSSELL was born April 10, 18-18, in 
Brcx)k County, West \'iriginia. He moved to 
Cedar County, Iowa, in 1853 and came to Ne- 
braska in 1S()1), taking- a homestead in Wayne 
County where he has been engaged in farming. 
He was educated in the public schools of Scott 
County, Iowa. He was married to Margaret 
E. Brussler, August 29, 1874 and they have 
two sons married and living in Wayne County. 
His wife died February 7, 1899, and he was 
married a second time June 3, 1901, to Miss 
Matilda Laase- 



JAMES P.RITTON, a lawyer and the 
Mayor of Wayne, Nebraska, was born in Lee 
County, Illinois, January 9, 1853. Mr. Hritton 
came to Wayne County, Nebraska, in April 
1876. He was educated in a private school at 
Bunker Hill, Illinois, and studied law at Iowa 
City, being a member of the class of 1873. Mr. 
Britton was the first Postmaster of Wai'ne 
and a member of the State Legislature in 1882 
and 1883 and is associated with the Indc|)end- 
ent party. He was married to Miss May Rob- 
erts in 1874. 



WEBSTER COUNTY. 



Webster County is situated in the Republi- 
can Valley and is composed of rolling prairie, 
tablelands, vallej's and bluffs. Eighty per cent 
of the land is capable of producing crops and 
the remainder makes good hay land. The 
value of real estate has. increased nearly one- 
third within late years. The soil is dark and 
sandy with an under strata of clay, 348,235 
acres being used for farm land, and winter 
wheat occupies more of this acreage than any 
other crop. Cereals, alfalfa and prairie hay 
are the principal crops, and there are also 
profitable orchards. The people are also en- 
gaged in market gardening and in the raising 
of sugar beets. A great many cattle, horses 
and hogs are exported. The first settlement 
was made in 1870 by Donald McCallum and 
Emanual Peterson on the north bank of the 
Republican. Silas, Joseph and Abram Garber, 
Wm. Mcl'ride, Albert Lathrop, Thos. Corn- 
stock and A. M. Talbot followed soon after. 
The first marriage was that of Wm. J. Norris 
and Hulda J. Rennccker. They were united 
by Judge Silas Garber, who afterward became 
Governor of Nebraska. The first school was 
taught by Miss Mary Kinsley in 1871, who re- 
ceived a salary of $12 a month. There are 
now 79 districts and 83 schools, six being 
graded. Webster County was organized in 
1871 and is 24 miles square. The population of 
the county is ll.GlO and that of Red Cloud, the 
county seat, is 1,554. Immigration was heavy 
during the years of 1872-3 and 4, but the grass- 
hoppers destroyed the crops the latter year. 
However, in 1876 Webster County products 
received a medal. The rush of immigration 
was renewed at the laying of the Burlington & 
Missouri Railway in 1878. 



ELIZABETH MARKER, daughter of 
John M. Marker, deceased, was born in the 
.Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, in 1871. She 
came to W'ebstcr County, Nebraska, with her 
parents in 1879. Her father was a farmer, and 
she was educated in the common and normal 
schools of Nebraska. She is a member of the 
Populist party, and at present is Superintend- 
ent of Public Instruction of Webster County. 

JOE VOGEL, one of the Commissioners of 
Webster County, came to Nebraska in April, 
1877, engaging in farming and stock raising- 
until 1891, and is now in the harness business. 
He was born April 20, 1870, at Hallidaysburg, 
Pennsylvania. His father, Joseph Vogel, was 
a contractor. Mr. Vogel received a common 
school education. 

F. H. GARLASH was born February 9, 
1851, in Germany. His father was a farmer, 
which vocation he has chosen for his own. He 
came to America June 1, 1877, and came to 
Nebraska in 1884. He was married to Hen- 
rietta Sellner in Blooniington, Illinois, March 
2. ISSl. Mr. Garlash is a Populist, and is 
chairman of the County Board of Commis- 
sioners of Webster County. He resides at 
Cowles, Nebraska. 

R. F. RAINES, born November 19, 1867, in 
Frankport, Illinois, is the son of Raleigh 
Raines, who was a farmer. Dr. Raines came 
to Nebraska in 1898 and was engaged in the 
practice of medicine at Beaver City for three 
years before going to Red Cloud, where he 
now resides. He was educated in the com- 
mon and academic schools and graduated 
from the Medical College in St. Louis in 1897. 
He is the Coroner of Webster County and is 
a Republican. In 1897 he was married to Miss 



341) 



SEMT-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 








E. ir. OVERMAN. G. W. HUTCHISON. 11. F. RAINES K. W. ROSS. 



A. H. KEENEr. 




ELIZABETH MARKER. 





GEORGE J. KOEHLER 



Webster County Court House 



Helen A. Aitken, and thcv have two children. 

WILLIAM R. ANDERSON, son of Herrit 
and Mary Anderson, was born in Sunman, In- 
diana, October 27, 1857. He came to Nebraska 
September 27, 1886. He received his educa- 
tion in the common schools, and is now a 
farmer at Bladen, Nebraska. Mr. Anderson 
is a Republican and one of the County Com- 
missioners of Webster County. 

A. H. KEENEY was born April 13, 1877, at 
Cowles, Nebraska. His father, E. H. Keeney, 
is a stock-feeder and farmer. Mr. Keeney was 
a member of Company A of the First Nebraska 
during the Spanish-American war. He trav- 
eled for the Aetna Life Insurance Company 
one year. He is a graduate of the University 
of Nebraska, having received the titles A. B. 
and LL. B. Mr. Keeney was elected Judge of 
Webster County by the Republican party in 
1903, and was only twenty-six years of age 
when elected. In 1903 he was transportation 
agent for the B. & M. R. R. 



G. W. HUTCHISON was born in Louisa 
County, Iowa, July 21, 1867, where he received 
his education in the common schools. He 
came to Nebraska in 1878 and has lived in the 
state ever since. Mr. Hutchison, a Populist, 
is serving his first term as Clerk of the Dis- 
trict Court, He was married to Miss Anna 
Fogle in 1S89, and they have one son. His 
father was a merchant and he is a grain dealer. 
He is one of the early settlers of Webster 
County, having located there before the time 
of railroads in that section of the country. 

E. S. G.VRBER was born in Clayton Coun- 
ty, Iowa, October 2, 186.5, and came to Web- 
ster County, Nebraska, when a child, in 1870. 
He lives on the old homestead taken by his 
father, who was among the first settlers of 
Webster County. He was educated in the 
public schools of Nebraska and has engaged 
in farming. He was married, March 3, 1886, 
to Miss Cora E. Armagast of Jewel County, 
Kansas, and thev have two children. Mr. Gar- 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



347 



ber is servinsr his second term as Clerk of 
Webster County. 

ELMER U. OVERMAN, wlio is serving his 
second term as County Attorney of Webster 
County, was bom in Hancock County, TUi- 
nois, June .'W, 18(U;, and in 1898 came to Red 
Cloud, Nebraska. He worked his way through 
Hedding College, in Illinois, and went into an 
office to study law. He was admitted to the 
bar in Illinois in 1889 and later in Nebraska. 
In 1892 he married Miss Nellie Zinn of Illi- 
nois, and they have two children. Mr. Over- 
man is associated with the Republican party. 
He has never lost a prosecution as County .At- 
torney during the entire four years he has been 
in the office, and was the prosecuting attorney 
who convicted the murderer, Frank P.arker. 

J. A. Mc.VRTHUR was born March 30, 
1858, in Lapur County, Michigan, whence he 
came to Nebraska in 1883. He is Scotch de- 
scent, although his parents, Sidney and Han- 
nah McArthur, were from New York. He is 
engaged in the meat and ice business at Red 



Cloud. ( )n .March 5, 1887, he was married to 
.\nna Schultz, and they have four sons. He is 
serving his secontl term as County Sheriff and 
•.s a member of the Democratic party. 

tlEORCiE J. KOEHLER, whose father was 
a mechanic, is a native of Illinois, having 
hetii born in ( ialena, December 15, 1852. In 
l.sT-") he went to California, then to Iowa in 
18T?, and settled in Nebraska in 1885. He at- 
tended the common schools of Illinois, and is 
now engaged in the grain business. He mar- 
ried .Miss Minnie Saunders in 1878, and they 
have three children. Mr. Koehler, a Demo- 
crat, is the Mayor of llhie Hill, Nebraska. 

l'.. \\'. R( )SS was born in Marengo, Illinois, 
August v'. 18.")9. His father. Ambler W. Ross, 
was a farmer. Mr. Ross came to Nebraska in 
ISTv*. engaging in farming and stock raising 
in Saline County. He was educated in the 
common schools. Mr. Ross is at present the 
Mayor of Red Cloud, Nebraska. He was mar- 
ried in 188 1 to Miss Maggie C. Rife, daughter 
of E. Rife, of .Saline County. 



WHEELER COUNTY. 



Wheeler County was organized in 1881. The 
population at present is 1,362, and it is rapidly 
increasing. It is situated a little northeast of 
the center of Nebraska, and has an area of 570 
square miles. Bartlett. the county seat, has 
150 inhabitants. J. E. Cummings was the first 
County Clerk at the organization, on April 11, 
1881. The valleys of Clearwater, Cache. Cedar 
and Beaver Creeks cover nearly one-half of the 
county, and here the early settlements were 
all made. Many cool, clear springs are found 



near the streams. The county has a great 
number of flowing wells, which vary from 8 
to 130 feet in depth. In 1900 the live stock 
was valued at $74G,599, and although the rais- 
ing of stock is the principal industry, there are 
2(i9 farms in the county, all of which have 
building improvements. In 1900 3,100 hogs 
were marketed. .About fiO per cent of the land 
is tillable, and the greater part of the acreage 
is used in the growing of corn. 



YORK COUNTY. 



York is an agricultural county, the land be- 
ing nearly all level, rich and fertile. The water 
supply consists of the nine and West Blue 
rivers, with Beaver and Lincoln Creeks. The 
cereals and tame hay are the ]3rincii)al crops. 
During a recent year the people of York har- 
vested over 2,000,000 bushels of oats, and the 
county was also first in the state in the produc- 
tion of barley. There are a great many thriv- 
ing orchards. Land has doubled in value 
within late years. Seven hundred of the 2,240 
farms have changed owners recently. The 



first settlements were ranches situated along 
the overland trail. All the early settlers se- 
lected the timber land along the streams for 
their homes, where fuel and water were plen- 
tiful. John .Anderson and his son William 
have the honor of being the first York County 
settlers. They chose a location on the West 
Blue in February of 18()5. In the summer of 
18G8 large herds of buf?alo roamed over the 
county, so that the needy settlers were en- 
abled to lay in a supply of winter meat. This 
was practically the last time these animals 



3 IS 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 







I. A. BAKER. 



N. P. LUNDEEN. 



A. B. CODDING. 



A. B. TAYLOR. 




CHARLES F. STRU-.'.V.V 






C. C. BOSLAW. 




CHARLES O. STEWART. 



York County Couit House 



H. W. BROTT. 



were seen in York County. During this same 
year this county was the scene of a great In- 
dian War, in which the Pawnees, Otoes, 
Omahas and Poncas were in league against 
the Sioux. The white men were not troubled, 
however. Organization took place in 1870, 
and since that time the population has in- 
creased from G40 to 18,20.5. York is the 
county seat, with a population of 5,132. York 
College is located here. There are 105 schools, 
nine of which are graded, and 6,1G0 school 
children in the countv. 



N. P. LL'XDEEN was born in Sweden, April 
22, 1850. He has lived in Galesburg, Illinois, 
and Burlington, Iowa, and came to York, Ne- 
braska, in 1ST8. He has followed the voca- 
tion of railroading and painting. In 1880 he 
was elected County Treasurer of York 
County and in 1901 Register of Doeds. which 
position he is now filling. Mr. Lundeen is now 
a Republican, but was elected on the Populist 
ticket. He was one of the first National Guard 
men in the State, having organized Com- 
pany A. 



COUNTY HISTORY. 



349 



A. B. CODDING, a Republican, the City 
Engineer of York and Surveyor of York 
County, was born in Bloomtield, New York, 
in 1835. He removed to Summit County, 
Ohio, going from there to St. Peter, Minne- 
sota, in 1856. In 1858 he went to Mandota, 
Illinois, an<l came to Nebraska in 1873. His 
vocation is that of surveyor. Mr. Codding was 
postmaster at Vera, Illinois, from 18G() to 18G4. 
He received his education in Oberlin College, 
Ohio, and Baldwin University. 

I. A. I5AKER was born in Clark County, 
Ohio, August 8, 1885. After residing for a 
time in Champaign Countv, Illinois, he came to 
Nebraska in 1888. From'lSSO to 1886 he was 
engaged as a printer in Homer, Illinois. Dur- 
ing W.Hi and 1897 he was City Clerk of York 
and District Clerk in 189!). Mr. Baker is Clerk 
of the District Court of York County. 

H. W. BROTT was born in Appanoose 
County, Iowa, March 17, 1861. In 1863 his 
father was killed in the battle of Mark's Mills. 
Mr. Brott went to Kansas in 1883 and came to 
York, Nebraska, in 1887. His vocation is that 
of plasterer and bricklayer. In 1901 he was 
elected Sheriff on the Repulilican ticket, which 
position he now holds. 

CHARLES O. STEWART, the first pro- 
duct of York County elected to a county of- 
fice, was born January 30, 1878. His parents, 
John and Margaret Stewart, were Scotch. Mr. 
Stewart received his education in the York 
High School and the University of Nebraska, 
and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsi- 
lon. He has been a teacher and was Principal 
of the Humboldt High School in 1903 and 
1903. In 1903 he was elected Superintendent 
of Public Instruction of York County. 

C. C. BOSLAW, son of Thomas C. and 
Pauline Boslaw, was born in Harden County, 



( )hio, February 2, 1855, and is of American de- 
scent. In 18.57 he removed to Green County, 
Wisconsin, and came to Nebraska in 1872. 
Mr. Boslaw, a Republican, is County Clerk of 
York County, having filled that position for 
three terms. He has been engaged in farm- 
ing, has been a bank clerk and at one time was 
postmaster. 

A. B. TAYLOR was born in Washington 
Counly, Iowa, April 14, 185G, being of Scotch 
descent. In 1«73 he lived in Saline County, 
Nebraska, then went to Chase County in 1886. 
In 1894 he settled in York, where he has since 
resided. Mr. Taylor spent ten years of his life 
as a school teacher and eighteen years as an 
attorney. He was educated in the Business 
College of Janesville, Wi.sconsin. Mr. Taylor 
was the first County Attorney of Chase 
County and at present is a member of the 
Board' of Trustees of York College. He is 
County Judge of York County, having been 
re-elected on the Republican ticket in 1903 by 
a majority of 1,000, running ahead of his 
ticket. 

CHARLES F. STROMAN was born June 
10, 1871, in Wolcottville, Indiana. His par- 
ents now reside at Ulysses, Nebraska, where 
he graduated from the liigh school in 1889. He 
received his A. B. at the LTniversity of Ne- 
braska in 1893 and graduated from the Law 
Department in 1895, during which year he 
was employed as a law clerk in Omaha. He 
was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa of the 
University of Nebraska. He began practicing 
law at York, Nebraska, in 1896, and at present 
is the County Attorney. In politics he is a 
Republican, and from 1898 to 1903 he was 
Referee in Bankruptcy for York. Polk, Ham- 
ilton and Fillmore Counties. 




Union Pacilic Passenger Yards, Grand Island 



350 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 







''sar'W 




A CO 

o 










SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



351 






^^^ 













^■•JW- 







4.!* 



352 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




Boyd County House (Couniy History, Page irSi 







CHAS. A MANVILL. 
Biography, Page 173 



M J. OCONNELL 
Biography, Page 329 






GOV. JOHN H. MICKEY. Biography Page 152 





R L, DRULINER 
Biography, Page 216 



CHAS. E. BRUCKMAN 
Biography. Page, 157 




»■«»»» 



i 



V 




W. T. McFARLAND 
BiocrapbT. faee 331 



O. Ij. RAM.SEY 

Biogrspby, Page 170 



WILLIAH. V. ALLEN 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



353 



WILLIAM V. ALLEN was Ixirn in Mid- 
way, Madison County, Ohio, January 28, 1847. 
In 1857 he removed to Story County, Iowa, 
where he lived for about twenty-seven years, 
and came to Madison, Nebraska, in 1884. He 
was educated in the common schools of Ohio 
and Iowa and attended l^pper Iowa University 
for about one year. He enlisted as a private 
in Company G, Thirty-second Iowa Volunteer 
Infantry. Returning from the war, he read 
law at West Union, Iowa, and was admitted 
to the bar. In 1870 he was married to Miss 
Blanche Mott and they have four children. He 
was elected Judge of the District Court in 1891 
and served thirteen months. In 18!)3 he was 
elected Ignited States Senator and his term ex- 
pired March 4, 1890. March 9, 1899, he was 
appointed to fill a vacancy on the bench and 
served until the following December, when he 
was appointed LTnited States Senator by Gov- 
ernor Poynter to fill the vacancy caused by the 
death of Senator Hayward. He was again 
elected as District Judge, but did not qualify. 



-*.- 1 


* 

i 

■ • i 


^Hk. ' '^iL . i 



J. STERLING MOUTUN 

J. STERLING MORTON was born in Jef- 
ferson County, New York, .'\])ril 22. 18.52. He 
came to I'cllevue, Nebraska Territory, Novem- 
ber 10, 18.51, and on April 12, IS.")."), removed to 
Nebraska City, where he established his per- 
manent home. President Huchanan appointed 
him as Secretary of the Territory July 12, 1858, 
which office he held until succeedeil by A. S. 



Paddock, under the administration of Abraham 
Lincoln. At the date of his arrival in the ter- 
ritory he was only twenty-two years of age. 
He had enjoyed the advantages of Michigan 
L^niversity, had received his final diploma from 
Union College, New York, and w-as endowed 
with a fine command of language. As a writer 
on the Detroit Free Press and Chicago Times 
his contributions were highly prized, while be- 
fore his appointment as Secretary he was edi- 
tor of the Nebraska City News, and in 18.55 
elected to the Legislature. During the session 
he attempted to stem the tide of wild-cat bank- 
ing, which resulted in his defeat in the election 
of 18.")(). In 1857 he was again elected to the 
Legislature. In 18(!0 he was the Democratic 
candidate for Delegate to Congress. Out of 
5,900 votes Mr. Morton was aw-arded a ma- 
jority of 14, but afterwards lost by a contest in 
Congress. Six years thereafter, in 1866, he 
was a candidate for first Governor of the new 
State against David Butler, who received a 
majority of 145 votes over Morton. At the 
first election of United States Senators Mr. 
Morton was a candidate against T. W. Tipton. 
In 1882 and in 1884 Mr. Morton and Mr. 
Dawes were opposing candidates for Governor, 
Dawes being elected both times. In 1892 he 
once more carried the minority party's banner 
in a contest for governor. He served as Sec- 
retary of Agriculture under President Cleve- 
land, and after retiring from the Cabinet es- 
tablished "The Conservative," a weekly publi- 
cation, of which he was editor until the time of 
his death, April 27, 1902. Mr. Morton was the 
founder of Arbor Day, the celebration of which 
extends bevond the United States of America. 
RIIODERICK DHU SUTHERLAND was. 
born at Scott's Grove, Jones County, Iowa, 
April 27, 1862. With his parents he removed 
to Northwestern Missouri and received an or- 
dinary education in the common schools, which 
was siipj)lenientcd by a few terms in the col- 
lege then located in College Sjirings, Iowa. 
He came to Nebraska, devoted himself to the 
study of law, was admitted to the bar and en- 
tered on the practice of his profession in Nuck 
oils County in 1888. Two years afterwards 
he was elected County Attorney on the Peo- 
ple's Independent ticket and was re-elected in 
1892 and 1S!)4. In 1896 he was nominated by 
the Populists and Democrats of his district to 
succeed Hon. William E. Andrews in the fifty- 
fifth Congress. The campaign which followed 
was one of intense excitement, but in the face 



354 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




RHODERICK DUJ; ^UTliEKLAN-D 

of every difficulty and against all opposition. 
Mr. Sutherland received a plurality of 2,700 
votes. 

WILLIAM Ror.ERTS JACKSON was 
born May 17, ISHO, in Marengo, McHenry 
County, Illinois. He worked on the farm in 
the summer and attended school in the winter. 
Having decided when quite young to prepare 
for teaching, lie entered the high school at 
Marengo and was the foremost of his class. 




Lake, Illinois, and they have five children. Mr. 
Jackson came to Nebraska in 1888, He taught 
three years in rural schools, two years in a 
seminary, was principal of one high school six 
years. County Superintendent of Holt County 
two terms and State Superintendent of Public 
Instruction for Nel^raska two terms. He su- 
perintended the preparing of the Nebraska ed- 
ucational exhibit at the Trans-Mississippi Ex- 
position, held at Omaha, in 1898. He has 
served as President of the Nebraska State Sun- 
day School Association, and is at present a 
member of the executive committee of the In 
ternational Sunday School Association. Since 
1902 he has been professor of education and 
principal of the Normal School of the Nebraska 
W'eslcyan University. 



WILLIAM l;(ll!Kl;l'S .lAi liSON 

After teaching a few years he entered Evans- 
ville Seminary, where he spent five years, and 
received his A. B. and A. M. degrees in the 
University of Nebraska. He was married in 
188(i to Miss Bernice M. Thompson of Crystal 




JOHN MELLON THURSTON 

JOHN MELLON THURSTON was born 
in Vermont in 1847, of revolutionary ancestry. 
His father died in volunteer service as a private 
in the First Wisconsin Cavalry in 18^')^^, leav- 
ing the son to work his own way through col- 
lege. He was educated at Wayland Univer- 
sity, Beaver Dam, Wisconsin ; was admitted to 
the bar, and located in Omaha in 18G9. During 
his early life in Omaha Mr. Thurston served as 
.Alderman and subsccpiently for some years as 
City .'\ttorney. In lS7ri he was a member of 
the Nebraska Legislature, holding the position 
of Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and 
.Acting Speaker. In 1884 he headed the Ne- 
braska delegation to the Republican National 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



355 



Convention and was chosen temporary chair- 
man of the Repubhcan National Corrveulion of 
1888. In 1887 he was a strong candidate tot 
United States Senator and in 1893 lacked but 
five votes of an election to that office. January 
15, 1895. Mr. Thurston was elected to the 
United States Senate, and immediately on his 
entrance into Congress he was made Chairman 
of the Judiciary Committee. 




CONSTANTINE J. SMYTH 

CONSTANTINE J. SMYTH is a native of 
the Emerald Isle, having been born in Ireland 
December 3, 18.38. He came to America at the 
age of eleven years, locating in New York City, 
where he resided until he came to Nebraska. 
He located in Omaha in 1S77 and educated 
himself at Creighton College, paying his ex- 
penses from wages earned as mail clerk on the 
Omaha Herald. He studied law and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 188."). The year following 
he was elected to the House of Representa- 
tives. For three and one-half years he was a 
member of the Omaha IJoard of Education. In 
1894 he was selected as Chairman of the Dem- 
ocratic State Central Committee, and served 
two years. He was one of the four delegates 
at large and Chainnan of the delegation from 
Nebraska to the Democratic National Conven- 
tion in Chicago in 189(i, and played a promi 
Tient part in bringing about the nomination of 
Hon. (William Jennings Bryan. Mr. Smvth 
was nominated in the Omaha Democratic Con- 



\ention of ISUG for Attorney Ceneral, was en- 
dorsed by the Populist Convention held at 
Hastings, and elected by a large plurality. He 
was re-elected in 1898, and served a second 
term, lu 1889 Mr. Smyth was marired at 
( )maha to Miss Katie Mur])hy. He was a law 
student some years ago with Hon. J. D. Howe 
and H. J. Davenport. 

DAVID H. MERCER was reared and, for 
the most part, educated in Nebraska. His first 
school days were in the lirownville High 
School, where he prej)arcd for the Nebraska 
.State University, which institution he entered 
in ISrr, graduating in ISSd. He studied law 
for a year, and then entered the senior class of 
the Law Department of the Michigan State 




DAVID H MEUCKIt 

LIniversity, receiving the degree of LL. 1'. in 
1882. He returned to lirownville and began 
])racticing law, served one term as City Clerk 
and Police Judge, and refused a nomination for 
Mayor. He was twice elected Secretary of the 
Republican State Central Committee. He 
moved to Omaha in 1885, where he practiced 
his profession until appointed Master in 
Chancery of the Ihiited Stales Court. In 1892 
he was elected by the Republicans for Con- 
gress and re-elected in 1891 and also in 1896. 
June 0, 1894, Mr. Mercer was married to Miss 
ISirdie Abbott, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, the 
ceremony being performed in Washington at 
St. Tohn's Church. 



366 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




<Tr-« .^ NEBRASKA SENATORS "^^" ^^ 

wM»« 1903 




■ 'i, llo)".'.''- ^^"^^^■•'' 
















"Sv-< ^'^^TT" S^^*>''*i.. 




MISCELLANEOUS. 



357 



ELISHA BENJAMIN ANDREWS, the 
Chancellor of the University of Nebraska, was 
born in Hinsdale, New Hanii)shire, January 
10, 1844. His fatiier was a Baptist minister in 
the village church at Hinsdale. At the age of 
seventeen young Andrews entereil the army as 
a private and before the end of the war was 
promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in a bat- 
tery of artillery. In 18GG, he entered Brown 




ELISHA BENJAMIN ANDREWS . 

University and four years later graduated with 
high rank. Then he spent two years in study- 
ing theology. After fulfilling the duties of 
pastor for a short time, he accepted a position 
as professor of Homiletics in a college at New- 
ton Center, Ohio. His next position was at 
Cornell where he taught political economy 
until he was elected President of I'.rown Uni- 
versity in 1889. He also taught Philosoiihy 
in connection with his executive duties. Dr. 
Andrews is not a specialist in any line of work. 
He is a fair sample of the broad minded col- 
lege man that can teach almost any branch of 
learning with equal facility. He understands 
fully the basic principles of successful peda- 
gogy and can readily apply them in teaching 
any subject. The writings of Dr. Andrews 
have attracted much attention and received 
much favorable comment among educators. 

HOWARD W. CALDWELL, who has 
taught in the University of Nebraska for 
twenty-one years, was born August 26, 1858, 
at Bryan, Ohio. His father was a farmer. 
When he was three years of age the family 
moved to Iowa and then returned to Ohio. In 



1ST 1 he came to Nemaha County, Nebraska. 
After completing his preparatory education in 
the common schools and a private academy 
he entered the University of Nebraska and 
received his I'll. 1!. and A. M. degrees in Johns 
Hopkins University. He has served as prin- 
ci])al of the Geneva and Lincoln high schools 
and is now Professor of Historv and Politics. 
He has written many magazine articles and 
among other of his writings are "A Life of 
Henry Clay;" "History of the United States, 
181()-]8()1 :" "A Survey of .Vmerican History;" 
"Territorial Ex])ansion of the L'nited States;" 
aiul "Crcat American Lesrislators." 





HOWARD W. CALDWKLL, 



UENKV Li WAKl) 



HENRY BALDWIN WARD, dean of the 
College of Medicine and profes.sor of zoology, 
University of Nebraska, was born at Troy, 
New York. March 4, 180.5. He is a son of 
Richard Halsted and Charlotte Allen Bald- 
win. Craduating from Williams College in 
1S.S.3, he became a teacher of science in the 
Troy High School, holding that position until 
1888. He took post graduate studies in the 
Universities of Gottingen, Freiburg (Baden), 
Leipzig and Harvard, receiving the degrees, 
A. M. and Ph. D. at the latter in 180'3. In 1893 
and 1893 he was an instructor in the L^niver- 
sity of Michigan and was in charge of the 
biological work of the Michigan Fish Commis- 
sion on Lake Michigan in 1894. He is asso- 
ciate editor of the American Naturalist and of 
Reference Handbook of the Medical Sciences. 
In 1894 he was married to Miss Harriet Blair 
of Chicago. Since 1898 he has been the Secre- 
tary of the American Microscopical Society 
and is a fellow of the American Association 
for the Advancement of Science, having been 
their general secretarv in 1902; is a member of 
the Zoological .Society of France; is zoologist 



358 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



of the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture 
and is a contributor of various monographs 
and papers on biological subjects. 

L. A. SHERMAN prepared for college at 
Phillips Academy. He entered Yale and re- 
ceived his A. B. degree in 1871 and Ph. D. in 
1875. After teaching in the Hopkins Prepara- 
tory School at New Haven, Connecticut, for 
nine years, he came to Nebraska in 1882 and 
has occupied the chair of English Literature at 
the State University. His birthplace was 
Douglas, Massachusetts, and the date August 
28, 1847. He has written several textbooks on 
English literature. 





SHERMAN 



EEWIN H. BARBOUR 



ERWIN HINCKLEY BARBOUR is a na- 
tive of Springfield, Indiana. He lived in the 
States of Indiana, Ohio, Connecticut and Iowa 
before coming to Nebraska, in 1891. This 
State has since been his home, and he resides 
at Lincoln. He attended the Preparatory 
School of Miami L^niversity at Oxford, Ohio 
He took his A. B. degree at Yale in 1883 and 
the title of Ph. D. was conferred upon him in 
1887. He married Margaret Roxana Lamson 
at New Haven, Connecticut, in 1887. They 
have a daughter, Eleanor. He was assistant in 
the United States Paleontological Survey, Yale 
University, from 1882 to 1888; Professor of 
Geology and Natural History, Iowa College, 
from 1888 to 1890; Professor of Geology and 
State Geologist at the University of Nebraska 
from 1891 to the present time. He has one 
hundred and ten published papers and reports. 

J. I. WYER was born at Red Wing, Min- 
nesota, in 18G0. He lived in Kansas, in all, 
eighteen years. He removed to Nebraska in 
1898 and has since made this his home. He 
was graduated from the University of Minne- 
sota in 189G and in 1898 he obtained the de- 



gree of B. L. S. at the New York L'niversity. 
On May 3, 1894, he was married to May Tyner. 
They have two children. Mr. Wyer occupies 
the position of Librarian at the University of 
Nebraska. 





J. T. MOKEY 



DR. J. L. GREEN 



J. T. MOREY was born July 23, 1859, in 
Charlton, New York, where he received his 
early education in the country schools, having 
Ijeeii brought up on the farm. He graduated 
from Union College, Schenectady, New York, 
in 1885, and taught two winters in the country 
schools. He was a teacher in the New York 
State School for Blind and was Head Master of 
Perkins Institute for Blind. Mr. Morey came 
from New York State to Nebraska in July of 
1888. In 1889 he married Miss Annabal Rice 
of Batavia, New York, for several years a 
teacher in the New York State School for the 
Blind at that place. He was at one time Su- 
perintendent of City Schools at Kearney, Ne- 
braska. He is a member of the Republican 
party and at present is the Superintendent of 
the Nebraska Institute for Blind at Nebraska 
City. 

DR. J. L. GREENE was born at Shelbyville, 
Indiana, on the 1st day of November, 1861. 
He came to Nebraska in 1890 and located at 
University Place. He was graduated from 
the University of Vermont in 1884. On Octo- 
ber 23, 1889, he was married to Miss Julia 
King, and they have two children. He was 
Treasurer of the Nebraska State Medical As- 
sociation for five years ; was appointed as As- 
sistant Superintendent at Norfolk Hospital for 
the Insane during Governor Crounse's term of 
office, in 1893, and in 1895 was transferred to 
Lincoln bv Governor Holcomb as First Assist- 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



359 



ant Superintendent. After a few months here 
he returned to I'niversity Place, where he prac- 
ticed meihcine, until he was appointed Superin- 
tendent t)f the Lincohi Insane Hospital by Gov- 
ernor Dietrich, in 1901. He is a nieuiber of 
the Republican party. 





ALBERT D. GILMORE 



JAMES DELAHU.'^TY 



ALr.ERT D. GH.MORK is an abstract r 
and real estate dealer of Auburn, Nebraska. 
His present residence is at Lincoln, where he is 
Steward of the Hospital for the Insane, having 
been there since May of 1!»01. He served two 
years also during Governor Crounse's admin- 
istration. He was born July 26, 1863, at 
Greencastle. Indiana, from which place he came 
to Nebraska in lS(iS. He married Elizabeth C. 
Curtis in 1889, and they have a son of nine 
years. He was Deputy Treasurer of Nemaha 
County for four years and Clerk of the District 
Court for si.K years, having been elected on the 
Republican ticket. 

JAMES DELAHUNTY removed from his 
birthplace, Peoria, Illinois, to Clay County, 
Nebraska, in 1383. After finishing the common 
schools of Peoria, he became a graduate of 
Cole's Business College of that place. He 
taught several terms of school while in Illinois. 
In Clay County he held the position of Re- 
corder in the County Clerk's office during 
four years. In 1899 he was nominated for 
Count}' Clerk on the Republican ticket, but was 
beaten by the Eusion candidate. February 15, 
1901, he was appointed Steward of the Peniten- 
tiary, which position he filled until his appoint- 
ment as Deputy Warden, July 1, 1903. 

A. D. BEEMI':R was a soldier, having 
served in the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, 
Company K, during a period of four years. He 
was born in December of IHA'-i at Stranton, 
Pennsylvania. In 18(;8 he came to Nebraska 



and settled at West Point, where he engaged 
in real estate, hotel and live stock business 
He served as ShcrifT of Cuming County for six 
years. In 1873 he was married to Belle Aker- 
ley. They have one child. He left West Point 
in 1886 and on his own land laid out the town 
which now bears his name. He founded the 
Beemcr State Bank, of which he has been Di- 
rector and President for fifteen years. .Some 
years ago he served for two and one-half vears 
as Warden of the State Penitentiary. He has 
filled this same office for two years past, being 
in his second term. Mr. Beemer is a member 
of the Knights Templars and the Elks. 

SARAli 15. SOHUS was born May -.'0, 1853, 
in ;\lanitowoe, Wisconsin, where she received 
her education in the high school, and taught 
for five years before her marriage to Frank N. 
.Sohus, in 1879. Her parents both came from 
Scotland, and her father was an expert ac- 
countant. Mrs. Sohus came to Nebraska June 
28, 1880. She is serving her second term as 
Superintendent of the Home for the Friend- 
less, having been appointed by Governor Diet- 
rich. 





E. M. UAUMAN 



H. M. FLORY 



E. M. B.AL'MAN was born October 27, 1881, 
at West Point, Nebra.ska, which is his present 
residence. His parents. Otto and Lena Ban- 
man, came from Germany. His father is a 
merchant and banker. He attended West 
Point High School and afterward was a stu- 
dent at the Nebraska State University for two 
years. He spent one year in the (lem City 
lUisiness College, at Quincy, Illinois. He is at 
present Steward of the State Penitentiary, hav- 
ing served in that capacitv since February 15, 
1903. ■ 

II. M. FLORY was born September 18, 
1865, in Keokuk County. Iowa, where he re- 



360 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



ceived his education in the public schools. He 
removed to Eastern Nebraska in the spring of 
1883 and settled in Chase County in 1886, 
where he has engaged in farming. Mr. Florj' 
is a member of the Populist party and was 
elected Treasurer of Chase County in 1901 and 
re-elected in 1903 on the Fusion ticket. 





J vSPEK L. McBRIEN 



NORRIS BROWN 



JASPER L. McBRIEN, Deputy State Su- 
perintendent of Schools, and who has been 
elected State Superintendent for the term be- 
ginning in January, 1905, was bom in Newton 
County, Missouri, March 19, 1867. His father 
was a farmer and served in Company K, Fif- 
teenth Missouri Cavalry, throughout the Civil 
War. Mr. McBrien spent his youthful days 
on his father's farm and in attendance at the 
public schools. He came to Nebraska in 1879 
and a few years later was graduated from the 
Sterling High School, after which he entered 
Campbell University, at Holton, Kansas, 
where he took a thorough course of study. 
Upon leaving the l^nivcrsity he commenced 
school teaching and in 1891 was elected Presi- 
dent of the State Teachers' Association. For 
two terms he was County Superintendent of 
Schools in Johnson County. From 1893 to 1897 
he was Dean of Orleans Academy, resigning 
this position to become the Superintendent of 
the Geneva City Schools, which office he filled 
from 1897 to 1901, when he was appointed 
Deputy State Superitnendent under Superin- 
tendent Fowler. Upon the re-election of Mr. 
Fowler in 1903, Mr. McRrien was re-appointed 
to the office he now holds. Mr. McBrien was 
married at Tecumseh, December 29, 1891, to 
Miss Eva Forbes, and has a family of three 
children. 



NORRIS BROWN, Deputy Attorney Gen- 
eral, was born May 2, 1863, at Maquoketa, 
Iowa. His elementary education was received 
in the public schools and he was graduated in 
the classical course from the University of 
Iowa, in 18S3. After leaving the University 
he entered the office of McDuffie & Howard, 
at Jefferson, Iowa, where he completed his law 
studies. He was admitted to practice on Octo- 
ber 1, 1883. He commenced the practice of his 
profession at Perry, Iowa and in 1888 settled 
at Kearney, Nebraska, where he since has been 
in practice, associated with his brother, E. F. 
ISrown. Mr. Brown was appointed Deputy 
Attorney General January 1, 1901, and has 
been elected Attorney General for the term 
beginning January, 19(15. He was married at 
Perry, Iowa, October 28, 1885, to Miss Lula 
K. Beeler, of Perry, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. 
llrown are the parents of two daughters. 

WILLIAM J. O'BRIEN was born in Wayne 
County, Michigan, in July, 18G6. He came to 
Nebraska in 18S(i and returned to Wisconsin 
in 1900 and then came to Nebraska in 1901. 
He received his education in the common 
schools and has spent the greater part of his 
life as a fish culturist. He was employed by 
the Michigan Fisheries as Assistant Superin- 
tendent from 1883 to 1886 and was connected 
with the Nebraska Hatcheries from 1886 to 
1895, when lie became Superintendent of the 
Coleman Lake Club Hatchery. He spent one 
year at Dunbar, Wisconsin, as Superitnendent 
and in 1901 became the Superintendent of the 
Nebraska Hatcheries, which position he holds 
at present. He is a member of the Republican 
party anrl of the American Fisheries Society. 

BURRETT BUSH, Deputy Commissioner 
of Labor of Nebraska, was born August 22, 
1.S72, in Binghamton, Broom County, New 
York, son of T. I^. Bush, a stockman. In 1880 
he removed from i\ew York to Iowa and nine 
years later came to Nebraska. His home is in 
Omaha and was there employed for three and 
a half years in the City Treasurer's office. He 
received his education in the public schools of 
Binghamton, New York and Mason City, 
Iowa. He has held several official positions in 
labor circles and in 1903 was elected Second 
Vice-President of the National Asociation of 
(Officials of the Bureau of Labor .Statistics at 
the National Convention held in Washington, 
D. C. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



361 




362 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN, of Lin- 
coln, Nebraska, was born in Salem. Marion 
County. Illinois. March 19, ISliit. He attended 
public school until fifteen years of age, spend- 
ing his vacation on the farm. In the fall of 
1875 he entered Whipple Academy at Jackson- 
ville, Illinois, and entered Illinois College in 
the same city in 1.ST7. He completed the class- 




WILLIAM .JENNINGS BRYAN 

ical course and graduated with highest honors 
in 1881. For two years he attended I'nion Col 
lege of Law. Chicago, during which time he 
was connected with the office of ex-Senator 
Lyman Trumbull. He began the practice of 
his profession and removed to Lincoln in 1887. 
where he became a member of the firm of Tal- 
bot & Bryan. He was elected to the Fifty- 
second congress and began congressional life 
March 4, 1891, at the age of thirty, and at once 
became a member of the committee on ways 
and means. He took an active part in the prep- 
aration of the Wilson tarifT bill in the Fifty- 
third congress, and was the author of the in- 
come tax law. His maiden speech was deliv- 
ered in the house March ll>, 18ii'2. on the free 
wool bill, and from that time he was recognized 
as one of the advanced thinkers and speakers 
of the country. On the 16th day of August, 
1893, he delivered his famous speech against 
the unconditional repeal of the purchasing 
clause of the Sherman bill. Mr. Bryan closed 
the debate on the income tax Januarv 30. 1894, 
Although defeated for the I'nited States sen- 
ate in 1895, he continued the leading exponent 
of the principle of bimetalism. and the follow- 



ing year, at the age of thirty-six, he received 
the presidential nomination of the democratic 
party, and was subsequently nominated by the 
populists and free silver parties, being the 
youngest man who ever received a presidential 
nomination. He threw a personality into the 
campaign which established his leadership 
with members of his party and although de- 
feated a second time for the presidency in 1900, 
his counsel is everywhere recognized by demo- 
cratic party leaders. He is the author of sev- 
eral books and the editor of "The Commoner," 
which he established in 1901 and which has a 
circulation of 150,000 copies. During the last 
eight years he has also occupied a conspicuous 
place on the lecture platform. . 

WILLIAM HENRY KIMBERLY was 
born at the Kimberly homestead near Tor- 
rington, Connecticut. March 2, 1861. His par- 
entage is staunch New England and open 
hearted loyal West Virginia. A\'hile he was 
yet a child his father fell gallantly fighting in 
battle leaving him fatherless and a poor hov, 
It was country life that developed the iron 
constitution and on the farm in T(nva he grew 




, W. H. KIMBERLY 




F H. BALDWIN 



to manhood. He attended the Iowa City 
Academy for a term and at the age of twenty- 
two entered the county clerk's office at oioley, 
Iowa, as Deputy Clerk. The following year 
he was elected to that oflfice. He took up the 
study of law, thinking to make that his life 
work, but being firmly convinced, turned to 
devote his time entirely to religious w-ork. 
Again entering school, this time at Cornell 
College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, he was led to look- 
ing up the neglected country communities ad- 
joining while carryinff on his studies in school. 
This led to the offer of a commission as Sun- 
day school missionary. March 1, 1890, he 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



363 



came to Xehraska and the next day organized 
his first Sunday school in the state. Since 
that time he has worked all over the state and 
parts of adjoining states, organizing Sunday 
schools and aiding the needy in every way in 
his power. The growth of the work necessi 
tated direct supervision and Air. Kimberly was 
appointed state superintendent. He believes 
in the words of George Washington, "The 
welfare of this nation depends upon the moral 
and religious instruction given its youth." and 
looks with such favor upon the work being 
done by The American Sunday School Union 
that he has frequently refused flattering ofTers 
of positions of trust. 



181)1», to Susie C. Smith, of Dunlap, 



her ^i,), 

Iowa, and has one son. 




HENRY MOORE KATON 

HENRY MOORE EATON. Deputy Com- 
missioner of Public Lands and Buildings, was 
born July Hi, 1807, in Lafayette, Indiana. 
When he was ten years of age his parents re- 
moved to Davenport, Nebraska. He received 
his education in the public schools and the 
Salina, Kansas, Normal and the University of 
Kansas. Eleven years of his life have been 
devoted to teaching, five years of which were 
passed as an instructor in the Fremont Nor- 
mal College, having commenced teaching at 
the age of sixteen. For some time he was the 
principal of the high school at Daven])ort and 
for a while was the assistant cashier of the 
State Rank in the same town. Mr. Eaton was 
appointed to his present position in 1900 and 
has been elected to the office of Commissioner 
of Public Lands and Buildings for the next 
term of two vears. He was married Decem- 





W. F BRYANT W. L STARK 

Ex. Congressman 

WILBUR FRANKLIN I'.RYANT, Deputy 
Supreme Court Reporter, was born in Dalton, 
Coos Countv, New Hampshire, March "^l, 
18.')L of Irish ancestry. He received his early 
education in Kimball Union Academy at Meri- 
den. New Hampshire, and finished at Dart- 
mouth College. He taught school in Missis- 
sippi, returned to the North and was admitted 
to the bar in Yankton, Dakota, in 1.ST7, and 
soon after located in Nebraska. He has held 
various offices in Cedar and Cuming Counties, 
was appointed a colonel in the state militia 
and for a while was the head of the State 
Bureau of Insurance. He is the author of the 
"Life of Louis Ricl," "Letters to a Young Law 
Student." "Did Virgil Write the Aenid?" and 
numerous articles and addresses. He has been 
the state president of the Catholic Knights of 
.\mcrica. twice delegate to the Supreme Court 
of this ( )rdcr ; was a delegate to the Columbian 
Catholic Congress in 189:5 ; is a director and 
member of the finance committee of the char- 
ity organization of the City of Lincoln. He is 
married and has five children, two daughters 
and three sons. 

CAPTAIN JACOB H. CULVER was born 
in Mercer County, Ohio, in 184."), and came 
with his family to Wisconsin when a child. 
He received his early training in the schools 
of the neighborhood, and enlisted when only 
sixteen as a drummer boy in Company K, 
First \\'isconsin Infantry. When the color- 
bearer of his regiment was shot down at the 
battle of Perryville. the drummer boy grasped 
through the service. He was in the battles of 
Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, and in the 
.\tlanta campaign. He took a course in the 
l^iiversitv of Wisconsin after the war. In 



364 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



1870 he married Miss Ada Davison and they 
have five children. The same year he came to 
Mih'ord, Nebraska, and was appointed post- 
master. He also served as postmaster during 
Harrison's administration. In 1887 he organ- 
ized Troop A, N. N. G., was it captain for 
over ten years, has been senior vice com- 
mander of the Nebraska G. A. R. and was 
elected Department Commander in 1896. From 
1895 to 1897 he was Commandant of the Sol- 
diers' Home at Milford. 

EDWARD ROYSE, Secretary of the State 
Banking Board, was born in Marion County, 
Iowa, March 7, 1858. He received his educa- 
tion in the public schools of his native county 
and at an early age learned telegraphy and for 
some years was engaged in railroading as an 
operator and station agent. He came to Ne- 
braska in 1878 and for a time was located at 
Brownville, then at Peru, and later Aurora, 
moving from the latter place to Broken Bow, 
in 1884, where he retains his residence and 
where he has been engaged in the banking 
business. Mr. Royse served as Deputy Com- 
missioner of Public Lands and Buildings in 
1895 and 189G. In January, 1901, he was ap- 
pointed secretary of the -State Banking Board 
to serve for a term of two vears and in Jan- 



uary, 1903, he was re-appointed to serve in the 
same official capacity for another two year 
term. Mr. Royse was married March 2, 1880, 
to Miss Addie Gates, of Brownville, and has 
a family consisting of one son and one daugh- 
ter. Air. Royse served as Mayor of Broken 
Bow two successive terms, elected both times 
by the Republicans. 

E. H. BALDWIN was born in Cattarogus 
County, New York, in 1837. He was a suc- 
cessful merchant in the East, but deciding to 
come West he and his wife, who was a teacher 
from Epworth Academy, emigrated to Ne- 
braska, arriving in the state June 13, 18G7. The 
organization of the Old Settlers" Picnic by Mr. 
Baldwin in 1887, held at Palmyra, the largest 
picnic of its kind ever held in Nebraska, com- 
memorated the date of the arrival in Nebraska 
of Mr. Baldwin and wife. The first officers 
were E. H. Baldwin, President and J. O. 
Moore, Secretary. Mr. Baldwin was Presi- 
dent for the first four years of the life of the 
Association, after which time he resigned on 
account of impaired health. Members of the 
Old Settlers' Association have had to be con- 
tinuous residents from June, 1871, and the suc- 
cess of the organization is a monument to the 
niemorv of Mr. Baldwin 




AuJitorium, Omaha 



The Omaha Auditorium iniilding is two hun- 
dred and sixty-four feet long and one hundred 
and thirty-four feet wide. It is built of brick, 
stone and steel, and is covered with tile, which 
makes the building fireproof. It has a seating 



capacity of seven thousand five luuuhed and 
the length of the arena floor for horse show 
purposes is two hundred feet and the width is 
seventy-five feet. The stage is sixty-eight by 
one hundred and twentv-eight feet. It was 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



365 



built bv a stock company with a capital stock 
of $.")0(i.00(>.()o. The cost of construction was 
$\>0(t,()()0.(Ut and the grouml upon which it is 
placed cost $.">:),(»(»0.0(), niakinj; the total cost 
$255,000.00. The officers are as follows: F. 



A. Xash. President; T. C. Byrne, Vice-Presi- 
dent; Alfred Millard. Treasurer; J. R. Lehnier, 
Secretary ; T. J. Mahoney, Counsel ; J. M. 
Gillan, Assistant Secretary and Manager- 



NEBRASKA DAIRY INDUSTRY. 




Section of the Dairy Building, State Farm 



The first organization of this sort was ef- 
fected at Lincoln in 1S85 by a few men inter- 
ested in stock breeding and from this society 
was developed the present Nebraska Dairy- 
men's Association. In IflOO, there were 512,544 
dairv cows and (174, 025 cows on the range. 
The amount of butter produced during this 
year was 46,244,839 pounds and of cheese, 
578,0.30 pounds. In 1901 there were 10G,350 
dairy cows added to the stock of the previous 
year. The good water and grazing resources, 
together with the even climate, are largely re- 
sponsible for the success of the dairy industry. 
Those who have been Presidents of the Ne- 
braska Dairymen's Association are: 188fi, J- 



Dixon Averv; 1887, W. G. Whitmore ; 1888, J. 
W. Livringhouse; 1889. ]. C. Merrill; 1890. D. 
P. Ashburn: 1891, J. H." Rushton ; 1892, E. J. 
Haincr ; 1893, Wm. Sutton ; 1894, W. A. Car- 
penter ; 1895, B. R. StoufTer ; 1896, E. F. Howe ; 
1897, F. H. Vaughn; 1898, Geo. E. Haskell; 
1899-1900. John J. King; 1901, J. H. Rushton; 
1902, E. S. Snivley; 1903, J. K. jioncywell. 
The officers of 1903 were:" President, J. K. 
Honeywell, Lincoln ; Vice President. J. S. 
Clark, Ravenna ; Secretary and Treasurer, S. 
C. Bassett, Gibbon; Diroc'tors, B. R. StoufTer, 
I. C. Merrill, William V. llrich, L. D. Stilson 
and Prof. A. L. Haecker. In 1904, C. A. Clark, 
of Ravenna, was elected president and S. C. 
P.assett, Secrctarv. 



366 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Nebraska's Grain Production. 




Variety ot Grain 

Nebraska ranks among the first states in the 
Union in the prodnction of grain. In corn she 
holds third place, and the annnal average yield 
since 1895 has been 205,000,000 bushels. Her 
relative standing among the corn states for the 
past eight years has been : 1897, first ; 189G, 



second; 1898, 1900, 1001 and 1903, third; 1899 
and 1902, fourth. The increase in the produc- 
tion of corn is shown by the following statis- 
tics : 18G0, 1,482,000 bushels; 1870, 4,736,710 
bushels; 1880, 65,450,135 bushels; 1890, 55,- 
310,1)00 bushels; 1900, 210,430,000 bushels. A 
("orn Improvers Association was organized in 
1902 and the officers elected were: President, 
Lee Smith ; Vice Presidents, one from each 
congressional district, 1st, Wm. Ernst ; 2d, D. 
F. .Stouffer; 3d, Jos. Hall; 4th, H. J. McLaugh- 
lin ; 5th. J. S. Cobeldick; 6th, T. W. DeLong; 
Secretary-Treasurer, T. L. Lyon. The Asso- 
ciation is making seed corn growing experi- 
ments which shall continue for several years 
and it has had winter corn shows which have 
i)een of great profit to those interested. A fine 
exhibit was made at the Louisiana Exposition, 
$900 having been expended in Premiums by 
the Hoard of .Vgriculture and State Commis- 
sion. As a wheat producing state Nebraska 
grades fourth. In 1860 she produced 147,867 
inishels: in 1870, 2,125,086 bushels; in 1880, 
13,847.007 bushels; in 1890, 15,315,000 bushels, 
and in 1900. 24,802,000 bushels. The growing 
of winter wheat has an assured place in the 
state and it often yields forty bushels per acre. 
Nebraska has been very successful in the pro- 
duction of oats and the average crop for the 
last eight years has been 48,201,000 bushels, 
lii this product, the state holds fifth place 
among the grain states of the imion. Other 
small grains, such as rye, barley, flax and buck- 
wheat are also profitably raised. 



The Beet Sugar Industry in Nebraska. 



The factories at Grand Island, Norfolk and 
Leavitt comprise the principal part of the Ne- 
braska beet sugar industry. The three fac- 
tories combined require 1,275 tons of beets 
daily in the manufacture of sugar and the 
average amount of granulated sugar annually 
made in Nebraska is about 20,000,000 pounds. 
Nearly eight hundred men are employed in 
these factories every year and an immense 
amount of coal and lime, stone is consumed. 
The Grand Island factory began running in 
the fall of 1890 and was built at an expense of 
$500,000. Its daily capacity is 90,000 pounds 
of sugar and in 1902, the output of the working 
season, beginning with October and ending 
with the first of February, was 7,000,000 




Leavitt Sugar Beet Factory 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



367 



pounds. In 10O3, the product of beet fields 
coverinjj 0,000 acres was used by this factory 
and during the year thirty-five men are con- 
stantly employed, six of which number attend 
to the growing of the raw product. Henry S. 
Ferrar is the manager of the Grand Island fac- 
tory. J. N. Hundick is at the head of the Nor- 
folk factory, which was first opened u]) in the 
fall of 1891. I'rom four to five thousand acres 
of beets are required as a source of supply, and 
in 1903, the average tonnage per acre was 
10.01. The lowest price paid for beets is $4.00 
per ton and the factory i)ays in addition for 
hauling and shipping. When beets are over 
fourteen jier cent sugar, tliey bring a corre- 



spondingly higher price. The pulj) left from 
the beets is very valuable for feeding stock 
and this is given free to those who grow beets 
for the Norfolk factory. All the buildings be- 
longing to the Leavitt factory have concrete 
foundations and rest upon piling. The fac- 
tory comnuMiced operation in 1899 and the ex- 
l)cnse of building was $800,000. Although the 
buildings were arranged for a daily capacity 
oi one thousand tons, the machinery has only 
half that capacity, because of the limited sup- 
ply of beets at the time of construction. In 
1902 the expenses were: For beets, $\C>G - 
9(i2.49; for labor, $49,098.17; and for supplies 
$.-|l.?09.8,5. 




Nebraska Poultry Industry. 

The astonishing growth of the i)oultry in- eggs aggregated $4,0()8,0O0. The State Poul- 
dustry in this state is due in large measure to try Association was started in 1884 and in 1892 
the .\rmour. Swift and Cudahy packing houses was made a state institution. The annual 
of South Omaha, which occasion such a great poultry shows are maintained by a state ap- 
demand for poultry and eggs. These three propriation of $1,000. Those who served as 
establishments are represented by agencieu officers for the vear of 190.i were : Judge T. L. 
throughout the state, which pay good prices to Norval, Seward. President ; E. B." Day, Fre- 
local producers. These companies make large ninnt. Vice President; Rev. L. P. Ludde'n, Lin- 
shipments of cold storage fowls and large coin, Secretary; I. L. Lyman, Lincoln, Treas- 



cjuantities are sent to European markets, es- 
pecially to Great Britain. In 1880, the poultrv 
of the state numbered 279,2()2. In 1900, pouf- 
try was valued at $;i,499,04 1 while the sale of 



urcr. Directors — C. M. Lewelling, Brownville; 
David Lar.son, Wahoo ; E. E. Smith, Lincoln; 
C. Rockhill, Harvard; W. A. Irvin, Wilber. 



368 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




The State Cattle Industry. 



Nebraska has always been popular with 
cattle men because of her natural advantages 
in the way of water, grasses and climate. In 
cattle raising, the state ranks fourth in the 
Union ; and more breeding of fine cattle is be- 
done here than in any other district in the 
country. During the fifteen years between 
1870 and 1883, breeding cattle wree con- 



stantly shipped into Nebraska from the east- 
ern states. The following figures are given to 
show the growth of the cattle industry. In 
ISGO, there were 37,li)7 head of cattle ; in 1870, 
the number was 79,054 ; in 1880, 740,541 ; in 
1890. 1,730,439, and in 1900, the number had 
increased to 3,176,942. 




The swine industry has become very popu- 
lar throughout the state because of the profit 
in utilizing the corn crop for fattening. The 
State Association was organized in 1884 and 
those who were most instrumental in its form- 
ation were its first officers. They were: J. V. 



\\'olfe of Lincoln, President; H. C. Dawson 
of Endicott, \''ice President; C. A. Brown of 
Syracuse, Secretary; H. C. Stoll of Beatrice, 
Treasurer. In 1902, John Blain of Pawnee 
City was President and in 1903, Gilbert Van 
Fatten of Sutton. 



The South Omaha Union Stock Yards. 

These yards occupy eight acres of ground 
and the buildings and pens have a capacity of 
30.000 cattle, 30,000 hogs, 35,000 sheep and 
1.000 horses. The supply of fat stock is ob- 
tained for the greater part from Nebraska, 
Iowa, Missouri and Kansas, and the range and 
stock cattle are shipped from Western Ne- 
braska, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana and 
South Dakota. In 1890, stock received at the 
yards comprised 615,337 cattle, 1,702.723 hogs, 
153,873 sheep and 5,069 horses and mules. The 
report for 1903 shows a receipt or 1,071,177 
cattle, 2,230,067 hogs, 1,863,763 sheep and 
52,829 horses and mules. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



369 




BeginnlDK at lett in oraer standint: is: 

1. AUNA UUBSON, State Enyinier or Irrigation. 

2. JOH.M DAVIS, State Board of Chanties. 

3. GEO L. C.\KTEK, Fish auU (Jame CJommissioner. 

4. BUKKITI' BUSU, Commisaioner of Labor. 



5. L. IVI. SCOTHORN. Assistant Quartermaster Oenersl. 

S. KJJ. ROYCi^. Secretary State Banking Board. 

7. J. H CUL.VEK, Adjutant General of State. 

8 ED. A. CldUKuH. Slate Oil Inspector. 



The Nebraska State Horticultural Society. 



As a result of repeated successful experi- 
ments in the cultivation of fruit a great many 
Nebraskans became interested in the growing 
of orchards. This interest became so general 
that on the twenty-ninth day of September, 
18Gi), occurred the organization of the Ne- 
braska State Horticultural Society, on the 
^tate Fair Grounds at Nebraska City. Those 
who have the honor of being charter members 
of this society are : R. W. Furnas, F. A. Tis- 
del, Benton Aldrich, Nemaha County; J. H. 
Masters, Oliver Horner, O. P. Mason, J. H. 
Gregg, J. B. Merton, J. Hoagland, J. Sterling 
Morton, J. M. Taggert, IL K. Raymond, J, N. 
Croxton, Otoe County; P. W. Hitchcock, Geo. 
B. Graff, Alvin Saunders, L. A. Walker, Doug- 
las County; David Butler, Lancaster County; 
J. B. Weston, Gage County ; Jonathan Ed- 
wards, Dodge County; J. W. Hollingshead, 
Pawnee County; Wm. D. Wilson, Des Moines, 
la.; J. W. Pcarman, Davenport, la. J. H. 
Masters was elected President ; R. W. Furnas, 
Secertary, and O. P. Mason, Treasurer. 

At the next meeting of the society, which 
was held at Brownville, January 5, 1870, a col- 



lection of winter fruit was put on exhibition. 
Uut of this display was developed the annual 
winter fruit show, which has become a dis- 
tinct institution of this society. The Horti- 
cultural Hall at the State Fair grounds is 
under its management and from $1,000.00 to 
$1,JOO.OO in prizes is annually awarded to Ne- 
braska horticulturists. The society also oper- 
ates five experimental stations in this state. 
Following is a list of the officers which have 
been elected in the years between 1372 and 
1904: J. H. Masters, President, 1872, '73, '86; 
Vice President, '83. J. T. Allen, Vice Presi- 
dent, 1872, '73; President, 1874, '75; Secretary, 
1883, '84, '85. R. W. Furnas, Secretary, 1873, 
'73; President, 1877, '78, '79, '80. D. H. 
Wheeler, Treasurer, 1872, '73, •1'4; Secretary, 

1875. '76, '77, '78, '79, '80, '81. '82. J. W. Moore, 
Secretary, 1874. E. N. Grennell, Vice Presi- 
dent. 1875, '77, '80; President, '81. John Evans, 
Treasurer, 1875, '76, '77, '78. S. B. Hobson, 
President, 1876. Hiram Craig, Vice President, 

1876. Charles Mathewson, Vice President, 
1878, '79. Chris Hartman, Treasurer, 1879 to 
'87. S. Barnard, Vice President, 1381; Presi- 



370 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



dent, '82, '83, '34, "85; Secretary, '86, '87, '88. 
R. N. Day, Vice President, 1882, '85, '8G ; Presi- 
dent, '87, '88 ; Secretary, '91. Mrs. R. H. Strat- 
ton, Vice Presihent, 1887. W. R. Harris, Pres- 
ident 1888; Vice President, '89, '90. Peter 
Youngers, Jr., Treasurer, 1888 to 1904. F. W. 
Taylor, President, 1889, '90, '91; Secretary, '92, 
'93, '94. E. F".'Stephens, President, 1892 to '9{). 
D. U. Reed, Vice President, 1892, '93, '94; Sec- 



retary, '95. G. A. Marshall, Vice President, 
1895, '96; President, '97, '98, '99, '00, '01. J. H. 
Hadkinson, Secretary, 1896 ; Vice President, 
'97, '98, '99. C. H. Barnard, Secretary, 1897 to 
1902.. L. M. Russell, Vice President, 1900, '01; 
President, '02 ; Secretary, '03, '04. G. S. Christy, 
Vice President, 1902; President, '03, '04. W. 
J. Hesser, Vice President, 1903, '04. 



The Nebraska State Board of Agriculture. 





p. YOUNGEKS 



J. B. DINSMORE 




C. H. RUD3E 

The State Agricultrural Board was estab- 
lished in 181)7 and its charter members were: 
S. M. Kirkpatrick, O. P. Mason, C. H. Walker, 
George Crow, J. G. Miller, John Patrick, John 
Ritchie, Job-. Cadmore, Samuel Maxwell, 
Elam Clark, Isaac Albertson, Amos Gates, 
Geo. A. Hall, Wm. Imelay, E. A. Allen, H. M. 
Reynolds, VV. D. Scott, A. S. Holiday, John 
B. Bennett, B. Gates, Louis A. Walker, J. 
Sterling Morton, J. W. Hollingshead, G. P. 
Thomas, J. B. Stout, Henry Sprick, S. W. 
Kennedy, A. L. Childs and Anderson Miller. 
Previous to Nebraska's organization as a 
state, there was a Territorial Board of Agri- 



culture, which had been in existence since 
1858. The first permanent officers of the ter- 
ritorial organization were: Robert W. Furnas 
of Nemaha County, President ; A. D. Jones of 
Douglas County, Secretary, and John M. 
Thayer of Douglas County, Treasurer. Under 
this management a fair was held at Nebraska 
City in September of 1859. At that time there 
were no accommodations for a display of this 
sort and the meagre prizes were paid by per- 
sonal subscription. Nebraska City was also 
the location of the first State Fair, in the 
early years, there was a great deal of conten- 
tion as to the location of the annual fairs. 
Brownville was the successful competitor in 
1871, Lincoln during the next two years and 
Omaha in 1874 and 1875. Then it was ar- 
ranged that the fair should be held for five 
consecutive years in a place. Following is a 
list of the Presidents since 1872: J. Sterling 
Morton, R. R. Greer, S. M. Barker, R. H. 
Henry, Ed. Mclntyre, John Jensen, Martin 
Dunham, J. T. Clarkson, E. A. Barnes, M. 
Doolittle, S. C. Bassett, E. L. Vance and Joha 
B. Dinsmore. The members who have acted 
as Secretaries since 1872 are: A. D. Jones, D. 
H. Wheeler, J. C. McBride and Robert W. 
Furnas. The Treasurers since 1872 have been: 
J. M. Thayer, L. A. Walker, J. W. Moore, C. 
Hartman, L. A. Kent and Ed. Mclntyre. 

The first meeting of the Territorial Board 
of Agriculture was held at the "Herndan 
House" in Omaha, which has since been con- 
verted into the Union Pacific railroad head- 
quarters. At this meeting the term of service 
was divided among the members. Those 
chosen for one year were : Thomas Gibson, 
E. Estabrook, J. M. Thayer, C. Bobst, J. 
Hoover, M. S. Reeves, Broad Cole and H. 
Baird. The members chosen to serve two 
years were : H. Johnson, A. D. Jones, R. W. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



•■ill 



Furnas, J. Cole, S. A. Chambers, J. C. Lin- 
coln, J. F. Griffin and E. H. Chaplin. 

JOHN B. UlNSMORE was a soldier in the 
Civil War, in which he rose from the ranks to 
the position of Lieutenant and later of Provost 
Marshal. He was born in Chautauqua County, 
New York and removed to Nebraska in 1872. 
Five years later he helped establish the Sut- 
ton National Bank of which he is President. 
He has been President of the Board of Man- 
agers of the State Board of .Aijriculturc. At the 
Chicago World's Fair of 1803 he was Superin- 
tendent of the Cattle, Swine and Fat Stock 
Exhibit; and at the Trans-Mississippi Exposi- 



tion, Commissioner of Live Stock, Dairy and 
Poultry. He has been Commissioner, Sheriff 
and Clerk of Clav Conntv, and also as Senator. 
I'F.TER YOl'NCERS, Superintendent of 
Horticulture at the Trans-Mississippi Exposi- 
tion, was born in 1852. He spent his boyhood 
in New York City, part of the time as p*Tice 
boy on Wall Street. Since 1874 he has been 
a professional nurservman. For six Vears was 
Treasurer of the Nurservman's National Pro- 
tective Asso'^iaHon.'and for seven vearS'of the 
State Horticultural Society. .At present he is 
on the Nebraska Agricultural Ro^rd of Man- 
agers. His home is in Fillmore County. 







EDSON RICH 



IW. G. WHITMORE C. J. ERNST 

Nebraska Board of Regents. 



JNO. L. TEETERS 



The Board of Regents constitute the busi- The office is merely honorary and no salary is 

ness management of the State University, connecterl with it. The present Regents are: 

They receive their offices directly from the Carl J. Ernst, John Lewis Teeters, Edson 

people, and their term of office is six years. Rich, W. G. Whitmore, Charles S.- Allen and 

two members being elected every two years. E. C. Calkins. 



The Nebraska State Historical Society. 



The Society aims to maintain a complete 
library relating to western and local subjects. 
Special attention is devoted to the collecting 
of material in regard to history, sociology, 
archeology and genealogy. All the current 
newspapers are kept in the reading room and 
files are made for reference. A museum com- 
posed of relics and specimens of interest is a 
feature of the .Society. The Nebraska State 
Historical Society was started September 20, 
1878, at Lincoln, and in 1883 it was made a 
permanent state organization. Since 1883, the 
State has contributed $43,000.00 for its sup- 
port. Following is a list of the officers: 



President, Robert W. Furnas, Brownville ; 
First Vice President, Charles S. Lobin- 
gier, Omaha : Second Vice President, Henry 
T. Clarke, Omaha ; Secretary, Prof. Howard 
W. Caldwell ; Governor John H. Mickey, Lin- 
coln ; Chancellor of UnivcrsitNlkE. Benjamin 
.'\ndrews, Lincoln ; President Srate Press As- 
sociation, C. J. Bowlby, Crete. The last three 
are ex-officio members, who together with the 
active officers form an executive board. Those 
who comprise the working office staff are: 
Jay Amos Barrett, curator and librarian, in 
charge; A. E. Sheldon, director of field work; 
E. E. Blackman, archeologist ; Daisy M. Palin, 
newspaper clerk. 



8?3 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 




J. WALSH 



H. G. SHEDD M. MILLER P. JANSEN G. W. WATTLES 

Nebraska Commission to Louisiana Purchase Exposition. 



E. M. POLLARD 



Nebraska's agricultural, horticultural, dairy 
and educational interests were represented at 
the Louisiana Purchase Exposition by an act 
of the legislature which appropriated $35,000 
for making the exhibit. The Commission, ap- 
pointed by Governor Mickey, was made up of 
G. W. Wattles, as President; H. G. Shedd, as 
Secretary, and Peter Jansen and Matt Miller. 
The gentlemen appointed as department man- 
agers were: James Walsh, Supt. of Agricul- 
ture; E. M. Pollard, Supt. of Horticulture; S. 
C. Bassett, Supt. of Dairy, and E. H. Barbour, 
Supt. of Educational Exhibit. 

JAMES WALSH is a farmer, having been 
engaged in this occupation in the British Isles, 
in New Zealand and in Australia, before com- 
ing to Nebraska in 1873. Mr. Walsh was born 
in 1851 in Ireland, although he is of Scotch 
descent. Since he located in the state, he has 
always lived in Douglas Coynty. He was Su- 
perintendent of the State Agricultural Exhibit 
at S . Louis, 1904. 

H. G. SHEDD was born at Ashland, Ne- 
braska, where he graduated from the high 
school. He is also a graduate of the Univer- 
sity of Nebraska, in which institution he has 
acted as Registrar during the last few years. 
Several years ago he went abroad, where he 
devoted a year to the study of European cus- 
toms and industries. He is Secretary of the 
Nebraska Commission to the Louisiana Pur- 
chase EvDO<;ition. St. Louis, 1904. 

MATT MILLER, a member of the State 
Commission to the St. Louis ExDOsition, is a 
practicing attorney of David Citv. He was 
born in Glasgow. Scotland, in 1852. After 
coming to America in 1853 with his parents, 
he lived in Wisconsin until about 1880, when 
tinon being admitted to the bar, he moved to 
Nebraska. Since 1881, he has been a resident 



of David City. He has served as State Repre- 
sentative two years and as Mayor of David 
City. He has also held the office of Judge of 
the Fourth Judicial District. 

PETER JANSEN came from his home neai 
the Sea of Azov, Russia, in 1873. He located 
in Jefferson County, and homesteaded on the 
land which he still occupies. His farming in- 
terests comprise 2,500 acres of cultivated land 
and he also operates an extensive sheep indus- 
try. At present he is serving on the Nebraska 
Commission to the St. Louis Exposition, and 
at the Paris Exposition, he was a United States 
delegate. In 1898 he was a member of the 
State Legislature. 

GURDON W. WATTLES is a native of 
New York, from which state he moved to Iowa 
in 1R()5. He made a study of law and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1880. Five vears later he 
was elected President of the First National 
Bank of Omaha and western manager of the 
Rochester Loan and Banking Company of 
New Hampshire, beside having an interest in 
a number of western banks. He is director 
and stockholder of several street car com- 
panies, the princinal one being that of Omaha 
and Council Blufifs. He was President of the 
Trans-Mississinni Exposition and is the Presi- 
dent of the Nebraska Commission to thr 
Louisiana Purchase Exposition. 

E. M. POLLARD is at the head of the State 
Horticultural Exhibit at the St. Louis Exposi- 
tion. Mr. Pollard has always lived in Ne- 
braska, where he was born in 18G9 at Ne- 
hawka. He was graduated from the State 
l^niversity in 1893 and has since served in the 
Legislature during two terms. He has been 
engap-ed in horticulture nearly all his life, and 
the Pollard apple orchard is among the largest 
in Nebraska. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



178 



Deputy and Assistant State Officers. 



ARTHUR R. ALLEN, Private Secretary to 
Governor John H. Mickey, was horn in Tis- 
kilwa, Bureau County, Illinois, Fehruary 4, 
ISGL He acquired his early education in the 
public schools of his native town, and also in 
the schools of Chicago. He came to Ne- 
braska in April, 1879, and for a number of 
years resided with his parents on a farm near 
Tecumseh, in Johnson County. During the 
winter months he taught school in one of the 





ARTHUR B. ALLEN 



EVAN S. MICKEY 



neighboring districts and was so employed for 
ten years. He then moved to Tecumseh and 
for two years was engaged in the implement 
business. In February, 1891, he bought an 
interest in the Tecumseh Chieftain, and for 
twelve years occupied the editorial chair. 
Since arriving at his majority Mr. Allen has 
always been an active factor in politics. He 
was appointed private secretary to the Gover- 
nor, January 8, 1903. Mr. Allen was married 
September 2, 1891, to Miss Nellie Ingersoll, at 
Tecumseh, and they have a family of two chil- 
dren, a son and a daughter. 

EVAN S. MICKEY, Chief Clerk to Cover 
nor Mickey, was born at Osceola, Nebraska. 
January 26, 1874. He received his education 
in the public schools of Osceola and in Cornell 
College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, from which he was 
graduated in 1899, with the degree of Ph. B. 
The year after his leaving college lie traveled 
in Europe, spending some time in Great Brit 
ain and visiting all the important points on 
the continent. Mr. Mickey began his business 
career at an early age, becoming a clerk in his 
father's bank when he was a school boy and 
was advanced to assistant cashier, spending 



tlie greater part of half a dozen years in the 
hanking business. He was married June 24, 
1902, to Miss Jessie Carson, a grand-daughter 
of ex-Governor Boies of Iowa. He was ap- 
pointed chief clerk by his father, in January, 
190.3. 

SAMUEL C. BASSETT, a soldier of the 
Civil War, was born 184 I in New York and 
was a graduate of Corning Academv of that 
state. In 1872 he located in Buffalo County, 
Nebraska, which has since been his home. Mr. 
Bassett was the first President, and during 
thirteen years. Secretary of the Dairvmen's 
Association. He was influential in the form- 
ing of an amendment to the Nebraska school 
laws to the effect that elementary agriculture, 
zoology, botany and ornithology be taught in 
the graded and high schools. In 1901 he re- 
ceived the appointment of Deputy Food Com- 
missioner. 





.S. C. BASSETT 



T. L. NORVAL 



T. L. NORVAL came to Nebraska in 1872, 
where he first located at Seward as a lawyer. 
He was educated in his native state, Illinois, 
where he attended Hedding College, and in 
1871 he was graduated from the law course of 
Michigan University, with the degree of B. M. 
L. Mr. Norval was a State Senator in 1879. 
Beginning with 1883, he served three terms as 
Judge of the Fourth Judicial Di.strict, after 
which he served as Judge of the Supreme 
Court for twelve years. Mr. Norval is Presi- 
dent of the State Poultrv Association. 

EVERETT C. BABCOCK, Deputy State 
Trea.surer, was born in Dakota, Waushara 
County, Wisconsin. June 27, 1863. His father, 
Heman A. Babcock, was a member of Com- 
pany G. Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteer 
Infantry and spent two yiars in the Service. 



374 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



In 1872 the family located near Ord, Nebraska, 
where Mr. Babcock's father was engaged in 
partnership with Peter F. Mortensen in the 
real estate business, and who also served as 





E. C. BABCOCK 



GEO. ASTHLS 



Mr. Mortensen's deputy in the State Treas- 
urer's office. Everett C. received a common 
and high school education and attended Alfred 
University for one year. He prepared himself 
for his profession as an accountant in a busi- 
ness college, and was employed by the Union 
Fire Insurance Company of Lincoln as chief 
bookkeeper prior to his appointment as Dep- 
uty State Treasurer. 

GEORGE ANTHES, Deputy Auditor of 
Public Accounts, was born in Frankfort-on- 
the-Main, October 30, 1856. He came to Oma- 
ha in 1878 where he has resided up to the time 
of his present appointment. His first public 
service commenced in the spring of 1888, 
when he entered the office of the County Clerk 
of Douglas County. In 1890 he was appointed 
to a position in the County Treasurer's office, 
resigning the position of Deputy County 
Treasurer on January 4, 1900, to accept his 
present office under State Auditor Weston 
Mr. Anthes was re-appointed to the position 
he now holds. He was married in March, 
1881, to Amanda Getzchman. They have three 
children. 

WILLIAM B. ROSE, Assistant Attorney 
General, was born in Grove City, Pennsylva- 
nia, January 25, 1862. He received his early 
education in the public schools of his native 
place and finished in Grove City College. He 
studied law and was admitted to the bar De- 
cember 22, 1888. In 1889 he came to Ne- 
braska and located in the city of Lincoln. 
From 1892 to 1898 he was Deputy State Li- 



brarian and assistant reporter of the Nebraska 
Supreme Court. While filling the latter posi- 
tion he edited, digested, and indexed all the 
opinions of the Supreme Court contained in 
Volumes 35 to 58, inclusive. Upon the elec- 
tion of General Prout to office in 1900, Mr. 
Rose became his assistant and has since been 
continuously connected with the Attorney 
General's office. Mr. Rose was married No- 
vember 18, 1893, and his family consists of a 
wife and one daughter. 

L. C. HARNLY is a native Nebraskan. hav- 
ing been born in Lancaster County, August 
16, isri, son of B. F. Harnlv, a farmer. ' He 





W. B EOSE 



L. C. HARNLY 



received his education in the Sterling high 
school and Fremont Normal School and has 
been employed as a teacher for eleven years, 
having been principal of the Crab Orchard 
schools for six years. He has served four 
years as Assistant State Superintendent under 
Superintendent W. K. Fowler. 





SENATOR J. H. MILLARD 
Biography on Page 165 



Q W A LUCKY 
University of Nebraska 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



376 



ERNEST H. PHELPS, Major of the Sec- 
ond Regiment of the Nebraska National 
Guard and chief clerk in the Adjutant Gen- 
eral's office at Lincoln, was born on a farm at 
Wataga, Illinois, son of A. N. Phelps. His 
ancestors emigrateu from England to Ameri- 
ca in 1G30. Mr. Phelps received a common 
school education and by vocation is a railway 
agent and lumber dealer. He is a member of 
the republican party and in official capacity 
has served as City Clerk and as a member and 



secretary of the Board of Education. His 
residence is Schuyler, Nebraska. 

WlLLIAiM R. MELLOR came to Nebras- 
ka in 1885. He studied in J. R. Scott's law 
office at Loup City, where he still lives. In 
1894 he was admitted to the bar, but for the 
last few years has been a real estate dealer. 
Indiana is Mr. Mellor's native state, and he 
also lived for some time in Ohio before remov- 
ing to Nebraska. He is President of the State 
Board of Agriculture. 



THE NEBRASKA NATIONAL GUARD. 



The Nebraska Guard is made up of about 
lie officers and 1,908 soldiers. Since its or- 
ganization in 1881, the guard has annually 
gone into camp for military training during a 
period of six to ten days. The Guard is sup- 
ported by an average appropriation of $33,- 
250.00 every other year. In 1887 the Second 
Regiment and the ]\J ilford Cavalry troop were 
formed, while a little later the guard was or- 
ganized into a brigade for future existence. 
The embryo of what is now the Nebraska Na- 
tional Guard vvas made up of the pioneer com- 
panies, which served as a protection against the 
Indians in the early seventies. Those who have 
served as Adjutant General are: S. J. Alexan- 
der, 18?9 ; E. P. Roggen, 1883 ; John C. Bon- 
nell, 1885; C. N. Baird, 188G ; A. V. Cole, 1887; 
Victor Vifquain, 1891; J. D. Gage, 1893; P. 
H. Barry, 1895; J. N. Kilian, 1901; L. W. Col- 
by, 1901 ; J. H. Culver, 1903. The Command- 
ers of the Brigade since its organization have 
been: Brigadier General, L. W. Colbv, 1887- 
1896; Brigadier General, C. J. Bills, 189G-1898 ; 
Brigadier General, P. H. Barry, 1901. Those 
who have been Commanders of the First Regi- 
ment are: Colonel, L. W. Colby, 1881-1887; 
Colonel, O. H. Phillips, 1887-1890; Colonel, 
J. P. Bratt, 1890-1898; Colonel, J. N. Kilian, 
1900-1901; Colonel, H. L. Archer, 1901-1903; 
Colonel, V. C. Talbot, 1903; Colonel, J. A. 
Storch, 1904. The Second Regiment Com- 
manders have been : Colonel, Franklin Sweet, 
1887-1890; Colonel, C. J. Bills, 1890-189G; Col- 
onel, Wm. Bischof, Jr., 189G-1898. Colonel, 
A. E. Campbell, 1889-1900 ; Colonel, Wm. Hay- 
ward, 1901-1903; Colonel, J. W. McDonnell, 
1903. As late as 1891 the Nebraska National 
Guard was called out in full force to defend 
the northern state border line against the 



Sioux Indians, who were located at the South 
Dakota Pine Ridge Agency. After nearly two 
weeks service in the dead of winter they were 
released, the Indians having been subdued by 
United States troops. During the Spanish- 
American War the First, Second and Third 
regiments, together with a cavalry troop, were 
sent from this state. The First Regiment 
started for San Francisco and the Philippines, 
May IG, 1898, having been mustered into ser- 
vice six days previous at Lincoln. Of the 
1,37G men enrolled, the regiment had lost 
sixty-four men at the time it was mustered 
out at San Francisco, August 23, 1899. The 
Second Regiment were not called to the seat of 
war, but remained at Chickamauga Park, 
Georgia, during their service, which began on 
xMay 10, 1898 and ended October 24th of the 
same year. Twenty-seven men died of dis- 
ease and accident. The Third Regiment left 
old Fort Omaha, where they were mustered in 
July 13, 1898, for Jacksonville, Florida, whence 
they sailed to Havana December 30, 1898. 
They were located at Havana until the next 
spring, when they returned to the United 
States, and were mustered out at Augusta, 
Georgia, May 11, 1899. Thirty of this regi- 
ment died of disease. The officers of the Ne- 
braska regiments were as follows: 

First Regiment. 

Colonel, John P. Bratt; Lieutenant Colonel, 
George P. Col ton ; Majors, John M. Stotsen- 
berg, Harry B. Mulford, Fred A. Williams; 
Adjutant, Frank D. Eager; Quartermaster, 
Lincoln Wilson; Surgeon, Frank D. Snvder; 
First Assistant Surgeon, Charles L. Mu'Uins; 
Second Assistant Surgeon, Robert P. Jensen ; 
Chaplain James Mailley. 



376 



SEMI-CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF NEBRASKA 



Second Regiment. 

Colonel, Charles J. Bills; Lieutenant Col- 
onel, Emil Olson; Majors, William S. Mapes, 
Ernest H. Tracy; Adjutant, Willard S. Hard- 
ing; Quartermaster, Frank H. Myers; Sur- 
geon, Maurice A. Hoover; First Assistant Sur- 
geon, Michael A. Rebert; Second Assistant 
Surgeon, James G. Marron ; Chaplain, Joseph 
G. Tate. 

Third Regiment. 

Colonel, William J. Bryan ; Lieutenant Col- 
onel, Victor Vifquain ; Majors, John H. Mc- 
Clay, Conrad F. Scharmann ; Adjutant, First 
Lieutenant Chas. F. Beck; Quartermaster, 
First Lieutenant, Wm. F. Schwind ; Surgeon, 
Major, Ole Grothan ; First Assistant Surgeon, 
Ralph J. Irwin ; Second Assistant Surgeon, Al- 
bert P. Fitzsimmons; Chaplain, Captain Ed- 
ward F. Jorden. 

Present Officers, Nebraska National Qjiard. 

The Governor's Staff: Jacob H. Culver, 
George E. Jenkins, Charles J. Bills, Carroll D. 
Evans.John A. Ehrhardt, Clarendon E. Adams, 
Clarence J. Miles, Jacob S. Dew, Samuel M. 
Melick, Joseph W. Thomas, Herbert P. Shum- 
way, Charles W. Kaley, Joseph J. Langer, Le- 
roy W. Garoutte. 

First Infantry.— Field and Staff. 

Joseph A. Storch, Colonel, Fullerton ;Warren 
R. McLaughlin, Lieutenant Colonel, Beatrice; 
Charles M. Richards, Major, Omaha; George 



Lyon, jr.. Major, Nelson; Fred Gegner, Major, 
Madison ; George H. Holdeman, Captain, Ad- 
jutant, York; Arundle H. Hull, Captain, Quar- 
termaster, Fremont ; Otis E. Davis, Captain, 
Commissary, York ; Frank S. Nicholson, Ma- 
jor, Surgeon, St. Paul; James B. Hungate, 
Captain, Assistant Surgeon, Weeping Water; 
Emile C. Underburg, First Lieutenant, Assist- 
ant Surgeon, Stanton. Non-commissioned 
staff: James H. Duncanson, Sergeant Major, 
South Omaha ; John F. Steele, Quartermaster 
Sergeant, Geneva; Harry Pritchard, Chief 
Musician, Wisner. 

Second Infantry. — Field and Staff. 

John W. McDonnell, Colonel, Fairbury; 
Fred J. Bolshaw, Lieutenant Colonel, Lincoln ; 
John C. Hartigan, Major, Fairbury ; Oliver G. 
Osborne, Major, Omaha; Ernest H. Phelps, 
Major, Schuyler; H. Elton Clapp, Captain, Ad- 
jutant, Fairbury ; Elwin E. Culver, Captain, 
Quartermaster, Sutton ; Leonard E. Hurtz, 
Captain Commissary, Lincoln ; Addison E. 
Knickerbocker, Captain, Chaplain, Nebraska 
City ; Clifford W. Walden, Major, Surgeon, Be- 
atrice. Non-commissioned staff : William C. 
Ramsey, Commissary Sergeant, Plattsmouth ; 
George W. Gregg, Chief Musician, Osceola. 

United States Military Posts In Nebraska. 

National troops are stationed at three points 
in Nebraska: Fort Crook in the vicinity of 
Omaha; Fort Niobrara, near Valentine, and 
Fort Robinson, near Crawford. These forts are 
fitted out with all the modern appointments 
of a military post. 






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